Tourism boom is likely to continue

TOURISM is by far the Gascoyne’s fastest growing sector, offering great investment opportunities.

In 1996 more than 217,000 tourists visited the region, generating $57.6 million in revenue.

The WA State Planning Strategy has earmarked the Gascoyne as the state’s premier water-based environmental tourism area.

The Gascoyne tourism industry comprises primarily nature-based and ecotourist segments of the market, with visitors attracted to its spectacular natural surroundings and extensive and unique marine life.

Special interest tourism includes indigenous and marine-based ecotourism, rural experience station stay tourism, product linking fly-drive market and short stay breaks for the domestic market.

Tourism is largely seasonal, with the peak tourist period from May to October.

The challenge for industry participants now is to develop new products and services to attract tourists to the region in off-peak times to even the distribution of visitors throughout the year and further utilise existing tourist infrastructure.