Western Australia needs new visitor attractions and tourism accommodation

February 12, 2024

In the wake of Tourism Research Australia’s latest investment report, Tourism Council WA is calling for investment in new attractions and tourist accommodation in Western Australia.

Despite rising confidence in the visitor economy shown in the latest annual Tourism Investment Monitor from Tourism Research Australia (TRA), Tourism Council WA Chief Executive Evan Hall has expressed concern that Western Australia had the lowest level of investment in new tourism accommodation and new attractions of any state in 2022/23.

Hall explained “we have major shortages of tourist accommodation in regional WA, which is pushing out tourists to other States which are investing in new accommodation.

“Many regional towns are at capacity and are turning away tourists and, in turn, the jobs that they create. Western Australia’s stock of regional accommodation is ageing, and we’ve had very little new investment over the past two decades.”

Hall said Western Australia needed to invest in new accommodation that not only created more space for Western Australians and tourists, but also brought greater staff housing capacity, and greater energy efficiency and sustainability.

Adding that Western Australia only had $1.4 billion in the investment pipeline for the arts, recreations, and other attractions, compared with $8.5 billion in Queensland, and which was even less than States such as Tasmania were investing Hall noted “not only is Western Australia not investing in new natural and cultural attractions like other states are, but we are also seeing existing public attractions in National Parks close down.

“We’ve seen a lot of attractions shut down recently such as Penguin Island Discovery Centre and the Gloucester Tree.”

Going on to say that the tourism industry wanted to create new experiences but kept being knocked back due to excessive red tape in the approval process, Hall went on to say “we would like to see tourism investment included in a streamlined investment process through the Office of the Coordinator General, as announced by the Premier in December 2023.”

Released last week, the annual Tourism Investment Monitor found Western Australia was tied with Tasmania for the lowest level of investment, $700 million, in new tourism accommodation.

Image: Tourism Council WA's 2016 concept for a Perth Cable Car.

11th February 2024 - Tourism Investment Monitor shows investment pipeline had a value of $56.1 billion in 2022/23

12th December 2023 - Tourism Council WA critical of Federal Government’s cut in migration numbers

24th November 2023 - Perth’s Outback Splash opens new resort-style pool ‘The Lagoon’

5th November 2023 - Western Australia to host 24th WTTC Global Summit

20th July 2023 - Tourism Council WA sees domestic visitor decline amid economic pressures

21st March 2023 - Perth’s Aventuur surf park secures development approval

9th September 2022 - Tourism WA launches new global tourism brand

20th July 2022 - Tourism WA and Hockey WA support Hockey Australia U21 Championships

4th March 2022 - Call for tourism industry investment after Western Australia’s border opening

25th February 2022 - Swan River’s historic Nedlands Baths site to become landmark tourist attraction

11th February 2022 - Western Australian events industry to share in $77 million support package

7th October 2021 - Tourism investors launch start-up incubator to catalyse transformation in global hospitality

11th March 2021 - Hot springs wellness retreat planned for prime location on Perth’s Swan River

9th January 2019 - Tourism Council WA calls for growth fund to stop industry job losses

10th October 2018 - Floating pool proposed for Swan River at Perth’s Elizabeth Quay

21st March 2018 - New plan to drive growth in Western Australian tourism

14th November 2016 - Investing in tourism could create 4,000 new jobs in Western Australia

26th August 2016 - Planned Perth Surf Park aims for Swan River foreshore site

6th May 2016 - Perth Cable Car to boost tourism spending and create jobs

12th May 2015 - Australian tourism investment reaches $53.7 billion in 2014

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