Tourism Western Australia

It has certainly been an exciting few weeks for Tourism WA’s Aboriginal Tourism team.     A recent highlight includes hosting a famil and awards night experience for Aboriginal tourism businesses nominated in the 2024 Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards, including a cultural walking tour along the Swan River/Derbal Yerrigan with Nick Abraham from Warrang-Bridil.     Waringarri Aboriginal Arts won Gold, and Mimbi Caves Tours & Campground won Silver at the Awards in the ‘Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island Tourism Experiences’ category, while Boola Bidi Dreaming took home Silver in the ‘New Tourism Business’ category.    The Tourism WA team also recently supported a group of Aboriginal tourism organisations and operators to attend the Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference (AITC) in Melbourne/Naarm, chosen for their role in supporting Aboriginal people, particularly young people, to participate in tourism and hospitality training programs. Read more about Tourism WA's Aboriginal tourism initiatives here: https://bit.ly/404SlWg 

A dreamtime festival and an aerobatics show are just two of seven exciting upcoming events set to receive funding for the first time through next year’s Regional Events Scheme (RES). Sixty-three regional events overall are being awarded up to $1.13 million through the 2025-26 RES funding round, with successful event holders to receive between $5,000 - $40,000 in funding toward a variety of events spanning across art and performance, sport, and food and gourmet produce.   Tourism WA’s annual scheme supports smaller and developing regional events, helping to attract visitors to WA's five tourism regions and boost local economies. The funding includes $150,000 specifically for the Regional Aboriginal Events Scheme, which supports events that showcase and celebrate Aboriginal activities or experiences, through the leadership and participation of Aboriginal people. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3ZLCtqr

Operators are invited to apply for the 2025 Future Leaders Program, run by Tourism WA in partnership with Edith Cowan University's Business Executive Education department. This subsidised industry-led workforce initiative is designed to equip emerging leaders in WA’s tourism and hospitality sector with essential management skills. Participants will engage in an intensive four-day Leadership Masterclass, gaining valuable insights into decision-making, problem-solving, stakeholder engagement and more. Valued at $3,000, the Leadership Masterclass covers all program delivery, material, refreshments and lunches, at no cost to successful applicants. Supported by Tourism WA’s Workforce Development Program, the Future Leaders Program is one of numerous initiatives designed to grow and retain a high-performing tourism workforce. Read more and apply here: https://bit.ly/4iBZLYn

There are only a few more days for WA tourism businesses to apply for the sixth Nihao Western Australia event as a WA seller.    Taking place on Tuesday, 18 March 2025 at Sandalford Winery, the event is returning after a six-year hiatus and offers the opportunity to connect with top-tier outbound travel agents from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The full day event hosted by Tourism WA is a chance to discover the latest market insights, networking, and more. Applications close this Friday, 13 December.     Find out more and register here: https://bit.ly/3OMV1BO

Members from Tourism WA’s Destination Development team recently travelled to Wooramel Station on Australia’s Coral Coast to connect with industry operators for the WA Station Stay workshop.    Over 25 industry members attended the workshop, which included presentations from guest speakers on destination marketing, development grants and workforce initiatives.    Designed to support the development of WA Station Stays as a must-do tourism experience, the workshop was organised by WA Regional Tourism Organisations Australia’s Golden Outback and Australia’s Coral Coast.    Learn more about WA Station Stays here: https://bit.ly/3Z9Z0Np

Today marks a milestone in WA’s aviation recovery with the resumption of non-stop flights between Guangzhou and Perth, operated by China Southern Airlines.     China continues to be WA’s biggest tourism market by spend, with 75,000 visitors from China injecting $328 million in the state in the year ending June 2024, and Guangzhou is a vital transit hub for Chinese and international visitors.    With this route reestablished, WA now boasts 20 new or resumed international non-stop connections since borders reopened, further strengthening the state’s reputation as Australia’s Western Gateway.    This resumption of this service follows the successful seasonal service between Shanghai and Perth operated by China Eastern Airlines earlier this year.    Read more about the Greater China market here: https://bit.ly/3OtjoUJ  

Tourism WA is pleased to announce the appointment of new Managing Director Anneke Brown, who will commence on Monday 9 December 2024.    Anneke’s extensive experience includes senior roles with global hotel brands Aman Resorts and COMO Hotels & Resorts, and serving as Chair of WA’s Women in Tourism and Hospitality association and as a past Tourism WA Commissioner. She brings a wealth of strategic expertise and industry insights and is recognised as a respected leader building strong collaborative relationships. Anneke will be instrumental in marketing Western Australia as an incredible holiday and events destination, inspiring people to visit us from around Australia and the world.  Thank you to Steph Underwood for acting in the position, and Steph will return to her role of Executive Director Strategy and Engagement from Monday 9 December 2024.  Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gTpfvfBW

Tourism WA’s $3.5 million multi-channel interstate ‘Western Australia Dream Sale’ marketing blitz has been a sellout success, driving 10,000 flight bookings to WA in under a month through our discount fares partnership with Webjet. In addition to discounted flights, the sale showcases a curated selection of exclusive, high-value deals on tourism experiences in WA and a Dreamy Freebies offer giving visitors the chance to win their experience for free. Thank you to everyone who played a part in this success. We’re thrilled to see more travellers choosing our Dream State as their next destination. 

We've begun rolling out our new Tourism WA corporate website, offering a refreshed design and a range of new tools and features for industry, media and trade. Our modernised new site proudly utilises the Walking On A Dream brand and has been upgraded to create stronger brand alignment with our consumer website. As the rollout continues, we'll launch even more new content, features and tools that better meet the needs of our tourism sector, and industry and trade partners. Discover our world-class new site at tourism.wa.gov.au.

The countdown is on for the inaugural Pair’d Margaret River Region, Western Australia’s new homegrown wine and food event, and new flight sales make it easy for East Coast travellers to directly access the fun.    The newly launched WA Dream Sale offers fantastic sale fares from Melbourne and Sydney direct to Busselton Margaret River Airport, making accessing the festival even more affordable.    Additional tantalising events have recently been announced for Pair’d, including a wine quiz at South West Wine Shop, a gourmet dinner at Amelia Park Cellar Door and Restaurant, and a Closing Party set to take over the main street of Margaret River town.     The full bountiful program lineup includes Margaret’s Beach Club; Tasting events, including a Grand Tasting at Howard Park and New Wave Gathering at Skigh Wine; a Collaborative series featuring a Night Hawker Market at Chow’s Table and dinners at premium wineries; and an Origin Series, a partnership with more than 15 local venues featuring unique food and wine pairings.    Read more about the Tourism WA owned event here: https://lnkd.in/gmD6vnTw