The Tourism & Transport Forum Australia (TTF), Australia’s leading advocacy body for these industries, has launched a five-point plan for the next Western Australian Government to adopt to supercharge the growth of the State’s tourism and transport economy.

The plan calls on the next Government of Western Australia to:

1. Ensure that the Premier retains the tourism portfolio;
2. Increase investment in tourism marketing and business events;
3. Promote sustainable regions;
4. Invest in critical transport infrastructure; and
5. Develop an integrated tourism and transport action plan.

 Margy Osmond, Chief Executive Officer of TTF said, “The end of the mining investment boom has hit Western Australia harder than most but there is now an opportunity to get behind and grow a sustainable tourism and transport industry that will not leave Western Australia exposed to the peaks and troughs of commodities.”

“Western Australia is well-positioned to benefit from a booming visitor economy if the next State Government commits to making the smart investments in promotion and critical infrastructure we need to reach our full potential.

“The new non-stop direct flights between London and Perth by Qantas that will commence in 2018 are the perfect platform on which to build a stronger visitor economy that draws more high-yield international visitors to Western Australia.

“TTF has been a strong supporter of senior members of government taking up responsibility for the tourism portfolio to demonstrate that government recognises the growing importance of the visitor economy to jobs and economic growth. There is no one more senior than the Premier and we would strongly encourage both leaders to commit to holding the tourism portfolio in the next term of government.

“Promoting tourism through destination marketing and securing business events in Western Australia is a wise investment to attract more high-yield international and domestic visitors. “Boosting the funding for Tourism WA will help grow the visitor economy and support more jobs and economic activity in the State.

“A near doubling of the Western Australian population by 2031 means we need to be embracing industries that can create jobs not just in the cities but also in the regions. Tourism and transport are key sectors that can be used to promote sustainable regions and bring jobs and economic activity to rural and regional communities in Western Australia.

“A strong visitor economy needs a strong transport network. Congestion is costing the state billions of dollars in lost time and economic activity and visitors are increasingly placing a premium on travelling to destinations with good public transport. Expanding the public transport network and improving connections between key visitor infrastructure assets must be a key focus of the next Western Australian Government.

“TTF has been a vocal advocate of governments developing integrated tourism and transport strategies which recognise that visitors as well as local commuters should be central to planning and building new public transport projects as well as ticketing products and wayfinding.”