Tourism

A long-term vision to create a world-class destination at Victoria Quay is close to being unveiled.

Tourism is the canary in the coalmine ahead of the global economic hit expected as China slows while dealing with the coronavirus.

UPDATED: The state government has said it will adopt most of the recommendations arising from a parliamentary inquiry into short-term accommodation, with Tourism Council WA and the Australian Hotels Association WA welcoming the pledge to apply more stringent regulation to the sector.

The state government has today pledged to spend $2 million promoting regional tourism and $8 million on aviation, as it ramps-up its response to the worsening coronavirus outbreak.

For a man tasked with delivering air travel solutions and encouraging people to fly, Kevin Brown says the bulk of his recent work has involved helping the travelling public spend less time in transit.

The state government has approved an application by the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation to build accommodation at Millstream Chichester National Park, with the company to develop glamping tents, caravan sites and a new restaurant at the park.

The state and federal governments today announced the first details of several planned infrastructure projects on Rottnest Island, on the back of $33 million in investments for the island over the next three years.

Busselton Jetty will strengthen its position as one of the South West’s foremost tourist attractions on the back of new amenities and renovations to the site, according to chief executive Lisa Shreeve.

Growing the number of direct routes from and into Asia will be a priority for Perth Airport in the coming year, chief executive Kevin Brown says.

Findings released today by Tourism Research Australia show 2.9 million visitors spent a total of $10.9 billion in Western Australia in the year to September 2019, a substantial increase on previous periods.

Premier Mark McGowan this morning said direct flights from China were critical to growing WA’s tourism industry, as the first direct flight from Shanghai to Perth arrived at Perth Airport.

Tourism Minister Paul Papalia announced a series of marketing campaigns with tourism operators in Germany, Switzerland and the UK in December as part of the state government’s $12 million marketing campaign targeting European tourists.

The state government has announced new direct flights between the Philippines and WA beginning in March of next year, with tickets expected to go on sale this month.

Accor has announced Novotel will operate the hotel component of Fragrance Group's NV Apartments and Hotel development, which will partially open later this month.

Property manager Hawaiian has announced it will commence with a $45 million refurbishment of the Parmelia Hilton Perth in December.

Qantas has posted record first-quarter revenue but flagged a profit hit of up to $55 million from protests in Hong Kong and the US-China trade tiff.

A team of Western Australian entrepreneurs is preparing to launch a new brewery designed to create employment opportunities for Aboriginal people, with proceeds from one of its beers to support returned servicemen and women.

OPINION: The relevant authorities could do more to improve tourists’ experience of the island jewel off Perth’s coast.

Busselton is set to have an underwater observatory, after the federal government committed $13 million to the project as part of its Regional Growth Fund.

Tourism Council WA has encouraged the state to attract more international students and events, as the state government touted figures from Tourism Research Australia as proof its marketing campaigns were paying off.

A privately-owned international bus operator that commenced operations in Perth in 1995 has struck a friendly merger agreement with SeaLink Travel Group, which operates the Rottnest and Swan River ferry services.

The operators of a scenic and commercial helicopter flights business in regional Western Australia have been fined $40,260 after it was found guilty of underpaying two pilots.

Industry bodies are divided over a plan to increase regulation of short-stay accommodation providers such as Airbnb, with Tourism Council WA and the Australian Hotels Association among supporters of the proposed rules.

The state government has announced that China Eastern Airlines will trial direct flights between Shanghai and Perth in January and February of next year

Peter Buckman says he loves his work with the Friends of Kings Park because he can see the positive impact of his efforts.

Perth is blessed with world-class beaches and the iconic Swan River, but the city is still exploring how best to activate and protect these locations.

Local hospitality entrepreneur Andy Freeman is leading a move to build a local branch of South Australian brewery Pirate Life in Perth, with a three level, 1000 person venue to open on Murray Street next year.

Online travel agent Webjet looks set to take an earnings hit and could write-off $43.7 million following the collapse of giant UK travel company Thomas Cook.

While WA’s tourism industry has steadily recovered in the past year, industry and business leaders continue to debate the best way forward.

One of Western Australia's most prominent fishing families will invest in tech company OpenDNA to provide marketing services and a Chinese mobile payment system to lure Chinese tourists.

International bar and restaurant chain HYDE Kitchen + Cocktails will feature at Accor’s The Adnate hotel when it opens in October.

Qantas has announced another share buyback and raised its final dividend despite higher fuel costs and a weaker Aussie dollar pulling down its full-year profit by 17 per cent to $1.302 billion.