Top tourism

MORE than $1.1 billion in private tourism projects are earmarked for development across WA, according to a new WA Tourism Commission report.

The latest Tourism Development Register records eighty-nine private tourism infrastructure projects on WA’s planning books.

In 1999, $117 million was spent across the state to complete forty-three tourism developments.

That investment is set to rise this year to $156 million with thirty-three projects currently under construction.

Plans for private tourism development in Perth alone now total $635 million.

Major Perth projects completed last year include the $13.5 million Chifley on the Terrace, the $20 million Perth City Hotel and a $20 million refurbishment of Burswood Resort Hotel.

A further nine projects are at the concept stage with a number, such as the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre ex-pected to become realities within the next two years.