$37 million budget allocation to attract blockbuster events to Western Australia

The Western Australian Government is allocating $36.6 million from the 2024/25 State Budget to bolster the state's reputation as an events destination.

Announcing the funding, Western Australian Tourism Minister, Rita Saffioti commented "we've said we wanted to make Western Australia one of the event capitals of South East Asia and keep building on our reputation as a world-class events destination.

"We continue to deliver on that commitment, having secured major coups over the past year including Coldplay, WWE, Italian and women's football, UFC and international rugby just to name a few.

"We also know that events are a big drawcard for out-of-state visitors, giving people a time-specific reason to visit and explore Western Australia, which they might not have previously considered doing.:

Securing unique and major blockbuster events has become one of the hallmarks of the Western Australian Government's tourism strategy.

To further cement Western Australia's growing reputation for major events, an additional $25 million has been allocated over the next four years to the Major Events Fund.

In addition, the Western Australian Government will invest $3.6 million for a new Metro Events program, which will focus on creating homegrown Western Australian events in and around Perth to activate the city for locals and draw in visitors from outside Western Australia.

This takes the current 2024/25 State Budget for securing blockbuster, major and homegrown events to $77.5 million.

The Western Australian budget will also include $4.9 million to continue the Tourism Workforce Development Program, which aims to attract workers to the tourism industry, as well as $1 million to boost the State's cruise tourism program, to help deliver the WA Cruise Tourism Strategic Plan 2023-2033.

The program seeks to attract more cruise lines to Western Australia, improve visitor experience, ensure infrastructure is world-class and improve industry partnerships.

Other initiatives include:

• $1.6 million to continue biannual stakeholder regional roadshows, extend existing tourism business capability development and continue receiving key tourism data from the Commonwealth; and

• $500,000 for feasibility studies for new tourism attractions.

• The $36.6 million package is in addition to other significant investments in tourism across WA as part of the 2024/25 State Budget, including $150.5 million of improvements for Rottnest Island, the $165 million Outdoor Adventure Tourism package, and $5 million for the B Shed upgrade to further activate the Victoria Quay precinct.

Image top: Coldplay at Perth's Optus Stadium in November last year. Credit: AnnaLee Media/Live Nation; Image above: WA Government has committed $165 million to theOutdoor Adventure Tourism package. Karijini National Park Tourism Credit: DBCA