Media Releases

Tourism Western Australia's Corporate Communications team is responsible for producing media releases detailing the latest news on WA's tourism industry, including departmental and destination news, and media releases from our Tourism Minister.

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18 June 2008 - Aboriginal Australia key focus of tourism expo

More than 2,300 tourism delegates are visiting Perth for the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE), and are being exposed to one of the country’s most unique tourism experiences.

13 June 2008 - Popular Perth journalist joins tourism team

Tourism Western Australia Chairman Kate Lamont today announced the appointment of Channel Nine Newsreader, Dixie Marshall, to the board of Tourism Western Australia.

13 June 2008 - Western Australia prepares to host massive tourism expo

The southern hemisphere’s biggest travel trade show starts tomorrow, when more than 2,300 delegates descend on Perth to help sell Australia to the world.

29 May 2008 - Tourism WA funds $225,000 to target tourism labour shortage.

Initiatives to tackle labour shortages in the tourism and hospitality industry have received support from Tourism Western Australia.

26 May 2008 - Million-dollar campaign encourages Western Australians to travel local

A million-dollar advertising campaign to get Western Australians to holiday at home will bolster the local tourism industry.

22 May 2008 - New Zealand ranks as a top tourist market for Western Australia

More New Zealanders are heading west, with latest figures revealing that Kiwis are among the top three nationalities visiting Western Australia.

15 May 2008 - New low-cost airline to bring millions of tourist dollars to WA

Tourism from Malaysia to Western Australia will go sky-high thanks to new, direct flights with low-cost airline AirAsia X.

12 May 2008 - Arts, culture and heritage focus of latest Better Business Blitz

Practical tips on how to access the tourism market will be provided to arts, cultural and heritage sectors at workshops hosted by Tourism Western Australia.

7 May 2008 - Tourist accommodation worth nearly $1.4billion in WA

Nearly $1.4billion of tourist accommodation is being planned throughout Western Australia, a massive $372million more than the same time last year.

2 May 2008 - Ironman bustles into Busselton and pumps $6million into economy

Busselton is buzzing after economic impact results from the 2007 Ironman Western Australia Triathlon were released ahead of the highest-profile Half Ironman tomorrow.

1 May 2008 - State Government welcomes $1billion Perth Airport vision

The announcement of a $1billion plan to expand and redevelop Perth Airport will be a major boost to tourism in the State.

29 April 2008 - WA taps into Korean working holiday-maker market

The State Government will woo working holiday-makers from Korea in a bid to combat WA’s current tourism and hospitality labour shortage.

28 April 2008 - Western Australians urged to shape future of tourism

Western Australians have been urged to start thinking about the type of tourism industry they wanted to see develop to the years 2020 and beyond.

9 April 2008 - Tourism WA opposes Observation City plans

Tourism Western Australia Chairman Kate Lamont today opposed plans to convert the Rendezvous Observation City Hotel into residential apartments.

2 April 2008 - ‘Aussies’ to make major splash on Scarborough Beach

Australia’s fittest surf lifesavers are gearing up for a week of intense competition as the 2008 UBD Australian Surf Life Saving Championships return to Scarborough Beach.

1 April 2008 - Perth hosts plethora of puppet performances

Perth is about to be taken over by puppets! From tomorrow, the city plays host to the 20th UNIMA Congress and World Puppetry Festival - the first time in the event’s 80-year history that it has been held in the southern hemisphere.

19 March 2008 - westernaustralia.tv wins major international award

Tourism Western Australia’s website www.westernaustralia.tv has won the Best Use of Video site category at the annual 2008 TravelMole ASIA Web Awards.

19 March 2008 - Ready, set, go for major Interhash event

Thousands of social runners from interstate and overseas will descend on Perth over the Easter long weekend as the city hosts Interhash 2008.

07 March 2008 - Tourism 2020: A chance to have your say

Tourism Western Australia Chairman Kate Lamont today extended an invitation to the people of Western Australia to join in a discussion and debate on the type of tourism industry they wanted to see develop up to and beyond 2020.

11 March 2008 - Perth secures 2009 ITU Triathlon World Championships

Western Australians will be treated to the thrills of world-class triathlon next year as more than 600 competitors descend on Perth aiming to be crowned world champion.

10 March 2008 - New five-year plan released by Tourism WA

Tourism Western Australia today launched a new strategic plan to set the direction for the Western Australian tourism industry to the year 2013.

10 March 2008 - Tourism WA announces new executive directors

Tourism Western Australia Chief Executive Officer, Richard Muirhead today announced three new executive directors set to lead the WA tourism industry into the future.

01 March 2008 - WA’s best recognised at national tourism awards

Tourism Minister Sheila McHale has congratulated two Western Australian tourism businesses for winning a prestigious 2007 Qantas Australian Tourism Award, held in Canberra last night.

28 February 2008 - WA plays host to Gulf travel delegation

Forty travel delegates from the Gulf will visit Western Australia this week for a tourism trade workshop and tours of Perth and Fremantle’s prime tourist spots.

19 February 2008 - ACE Scheme to boost arts and cultural events

The State Government is looking beyond traditional sporting events to entertain and excite Western Australians.

13 February 2008 - Major infrastructure project to revolutionise the Perth City foreshore

Premier Alan Carpenter has today committed the State Government to a spectacular redevelopment of the CBD’s Swan River foreshore.

13 February 2008 - Northbridge link to Perth city

Premier Alan Carpenter today announced a commitment to initial works of the Northbridge Link Project, bringing Perth’s CBD and Northbridge together.

12 February 2008 - $200,000 to tackle tourism labour shortage

Practical new initiatives are invited from not-for-profit tourism organisations as part of the State Government’s push to get more people working in the tourism industry.

11 February 2008 - Tourism WA steps-up support for tourism accreditation

Tourism Western Australia (Tourism WA) is stepping-up its support for tourism accreditation by requiring local tourism businesses to become accredited to be eligible for various benefits and discounts.

04 February 2008 - Upgraded website to market Western Australia to Japan

Tourism Western Australia today launched a new look Japanese version of its consumer website, westernaustralia.com.

04 February 2008 - Tourism Western Australia appoints new staff members to London office

Tourism Western Australia has announced the appointment of two new staff members to its London office.

26 January 2008 - Major marketing campaign set to continue success in 2008

A major campaign is being launched today to entice travellers from New South Wales and Victoria to take their next holiday in Western Australia.

24 January 2008 - Top international markets growing with ‘Real Australia’ campaign

International holiday-makers from the United Kingdom and New Zealand are in the cross-hairs of a major marketing campaign launched by Tourism Western Australia.

18 January 2008 - EventsCorp encourage regional events organisers to apply for funding

EventsCorp is calling for applications for funding under the 2008-2009 Regional Event Scheme before the 15 February closing date.

10 January 2008 - Funding boost to increase tourism workers

Tourism Minister Sheila McHale has announced funding of $590,000 to help combat workforce shortages gripping the Western Australian tourism industry.

04 January 2008 - Legends of cricket back at Scarborough Beach

Some of the biggest names in cricket will return to Scarborough Beach this weekend for the XXXX Gold Beach Cricket Tri-Nations tournament.

02 January 2008 - Hopman Cup secure in Perth

Tourism Minister Sheila McHale said the Hopman Cup was here to stay and recent media reports about its future were unfounded.

31 December 2007 - Clipper race re-start a great New Year's Day spectacle

Tourism Minister Sheila McHale has urged people to head to Fremantle tomorrow to farewell entrants in the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race.

17 December 2007 - Tourism spending in Western Australia at record high

Western Australian tourism has enjoyed continued and significant growth, with visitor spending once again breaking national records.

17 December 2007 - First Clipper yachts race into Fremantle

The first yachts in the arduous 35,000 nautical mile Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race have arrived in Fremantle.

13 December 2007 - Excite. Engage. Enrich: 2008 Events Calendar launched

Tourism Minister Sheila McHale has launched Western Australia’s 2008 Calendar of Events, along with an exciting new mountain bike event.

12 December 2007 - Festive fever hits Fremantle as Clipper Race yachts head to WA

Fremantle will come alive with Clipper fever this Christmas with the arrival this week of competitors in the 35,000 nautical mile Clipper International Yacht Race.

06 December 2007 - 2007 Lexus Cup swings into action

Tourism Minister Sheila McHale said the Lexus Cup, to be held at The Vines Resort and Country Club from December 7 to 9, would see some of the world’s best women golfers compete in Perth.

04 December 2007 - Major funding boost to complete iconic infrastructure project

Premier Alan Carpenter has today announced an additional $110million to ensure Indian Ocean Drive will be completed within the promised timetable.

01 December 2007 - Busselton gears up for record Ironman event

Australia’s South-West is in full triathlon mode as a powerhouse field prepares for Sunday’s 4th Ironman Western Australia Triathlon in Busselton.

27 November 2007 - Perth wins right to host 2008 Australian Transplant Games

More than 1,200 national and international competitors will descend on Perth next October to compete in the 11th Australian Transplant Games.

09 November 2007 - Regional Western Australian events get funding boost

Eight popular local sporting events and festivals across regional Western Australia will receive State Government funding of $79,500 for local tourism events.

05 November 2007 - Red Bull Air Race wows Western Australians

Tourism Minister Sheila McHale has hailed the second Red Bull Air Race in Perth over the weekend a high-flying success.

04 November 2007 - Western Australia wins bid for massive world sailing event

Western Australia will stage the biggest sailing event since Fremantle’s 1987 America’s Cup defence, beating five other countries to host the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships.

31 October 2007 - Red Bull Air Race back in Perth skies for final showdown

The wait is over for hundreds of thousands of Western Australians as Perth prepares to host the exhilarating Red Bull Air Race World Series this weekend.

30 October 2007 - Western Australian tourism contribution reaches $5.7billion

New figures have revealed Western Australia’s tourism industry continues to be a strong economic performer, contributing $5.7billion to the State’s economy.

30 October 2007 - Funding boost a boon for visitors

The tourism industry and visitors to Western Australia will benefit from funding aimed at improving facilities and services at visitor centres across the State.

23 October 2007 - New era for Rottnest Island as confidence hits new highs

Tourism Minister Sheila McHale today christened the first new ferry to the island in a decade and opened 43 refurbished units in South Thomson.

22 October 2007 - Sky’s the limit for Western Australian indigenous tourism

Western Australia’s indigenous tourism industry will receive $1.5million aimed at creating jobs and boosting Aboriginal tourism businesses.

21 September 2007 - Perth prepares to launch bid for international sailing event

Western Australia’s push to stage the biggest sailing event since Fremantle’s 1987 defence of the America’s Cup is racing full steam ahead.

14 September 2007 - Tourism spending in WA hits $5billion mark

Visitors to Western Australia are spending up big, pumping a record $5billion into the State over the past year, according to new tourism figures out today.

13 September 2007 - Prime tourism development opportunity on offer in Shark Bay

Prime land is now on offer to developers in the Shark Bay tourism region, one of Western Australia’s most popular tourist areas.

12 September 2007 - New lease for historic Quokka Arms

Garrett Hospitality Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Prendiville Group, has signed a 30-year lease as the new operator of Rottnest Island’s landmark heritage-listed hotel, the Quokka Arms.

10 September 2007 - International tourism breaking records in Western Australia

Western Australia continues to outgrow the rest of the country in attracting international visitors, according to new figures.

4 September 2007 - Western Australia clinches Hopman Cup for another six years

Perth is guaranteed to host The Hopman Cup until at least 2013 thanks to an unprecedented new six-year deal between the State Government and the International Tennis Federation.

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