Industry Consultation Sessions were conducted in May 2008. Feedback from these sessions has been taken into consideration by Tourism Western Australia's marketing team in finialising the operational plans for 2008/09.
Many ideas were generated, and several key themes emerged from the workshops. These themes are outlined below and relevant activities are being worked into the 2008/2009 operational plans for relevant markets:
1. Leverage the resources boom: The resources boom offers a unique opportunity to grow tourism in WA. With so many people visiting our state for work, we have the opportunity to provide reasons for them to extend their stay in WA or persuade fly in/fly out workers and their families to spend their “week off” in the state.
2. The Intrastate market: WA residents travelling within their own state contribute around 45% of visitor expenditure. However, the strong Australian Dollar and the increasing desire to travel overseas is contributing to a long-term declining trend in intrastate travel. This presents the opportunity for Tourism WA to re-invigorate WA residents’ desire for a holiday in WA.
3. Accommodation capacity issues: Occupancy rates in Perth are at their highest levels on record and are potentially limiting the number of visitors that can stay in the metropolitan area. As the primary gateway to the state, this also has the potential to effect the dispersal of tourism throughout WA.
4. Communication and partnerships with industry: As the key stakeholder in Tourism WA’s activities, the tourism industry must be provided with information on our activities.
The marketing calendar gives industry the opportunity to keep informed of upcoming campaigns and activities within Western Australia's core markets for the current financial year and will be continually updated.
Partnership opportunities will also be provided to industry on a continual basis.