Strong growth

TAKINGS from South West accommodation providers increased more than $2 million in the March quarter, compared with the corresponding quarter in 1999, according to a survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

During the quarter, $11.5 million was taken by South West accommodation providers.

In March, room occupancy rates averaged 54 per cent down from 58 per cent enjoyed in January during the peak tourist season.

While occupancy rates were lower than during the same quarter a year earlier the number of guests increased substantially – up from 93,600 during the 1999 March quarter to 112,300 during the corresponding quarter in 2000.

The South West still enjoys the highest occupancy rates in WA outside Perth and the Peel region and significantly more than the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne and Goldfields.