Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall believes Chinese New Year will become a major festival in Perth as a result of direct flights from China to Perth. Chinese New Year celebrations start today and are the major holiday period in China.

Latest data from the ABS Survey of Tourist Accommodation shows Perth occupancy at record levels of 86% in the September Quarter 2011, while regional tourist towns are languishing. Tourism Council WA CEO is calling for better funding to market regional leisure tourism. Read more…

Latest data released today by Tourism Research Australia shows that the number of leisure tourists from interstate has declined a massive 29.6%. The National Visitor Survey shows interstate leisure visitors to WA dropped from 385,000 to 271,000 over the 12 months to September 2011. On the positive side, intrastate visitors have increased 16.3% and China tourism is up 56% due to a well funded marketing campaign. However, the loss of interstate visitors is hurting tourism in WA. Read more…

Tourism Council WA today welcomed the state government’s review of nature based tourism and launched their new EcoPlus Module to ensure industry will benefit from the government changes. Read more…

Latest data released today by Tourism Research Australia shows international tourism to Western Australia was up 8.2% since September 2010. Read more…

Over 750 tourism industry representatives and guests gathered last night in the Grand Ballroom at the Burswood Entertainment Complex for the prestigious Perth Airport Western Australian Tourism Awards.

Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said “the Awards are a fantastic program that showcase the best of what the Western Australia tourism industry has to offer.”

“It has been a tough year for tourism and it was great to see businesses from all over this great state get together to celebrate their accomplishments” said Mr Hall.

The evening saw winners and medallists awarded in 27 categories, ending with the presentation of the Sir David Brand Award for Tourism to Eco Beach Broome. This Award, chosen from the 2011 gold medallists, recognises an outstanding achievement by an organisation in promoting or servicing the WA tourism industry.

Minister for Tourism, the Honourable Kim Hames MLA, also inducted four businesses into the Hall of Fame, recognising businesses that had won their respective categories 3 years in a row.

Clive Nelthorpe, who has had a long and distinguished association with tourism in Western Australia over the past 50 years, was awarded the Sir David Brand medal for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual.

Gold medallists will now go on to represent Western Australia at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, to be held in Cairns, in March 2012.

Click here for a full list of Winners & Medallists for the 2011 Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards

Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall has welcomed today’s announcement that Lend Lease will build a new hotel as part of their winning bid for the Riverside development in East Perth. Read more…

Perth Airport Pty Ltd and Tourism Council WA have congratulated China Southern Airlines as the carrier celebrated its inaugural flight from Guangzhou to Perth this morning. Read more…

Tourism Council WA is concerned that ongoing consumer uncertainty over Qantas services may result in reduced bookings during our peak holiday period. Tourism Council WA has written a letter to the Tourism Minister seeking support for prompt marketing action to counteract the impact of the dispute.

Questions & Answers with regards to the Qantas Industrial Dispute and what it means for tourism..

Qantas Industrial Dispute Q & A

Tourism Council WA has congratulated Perth and Western Australia for the hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) over the weekend. CHOGM and its associated events such as the Commonwealth Festival Perth and the ‘Big Aussie BBQ’ have proved to be a significant occasion in Perth and WA’s history. Read more…