ATEC praises 'remarkable' WA Tourism Budget

Australian Tourism Export Council Managing Director, Felicia Mariani has praised the Western Australian Government for provided a leading example of support and commitment to the tourism industry in its 2011/12 budget.

Mariani explained "this year's budget shows an increase of more than $15 million over 2010/11, taking the total tourism budget to nearly $82 million for the 2011/12 financial year.

"In a very tough tourism environment over the past 12 months, it is encouraging to see the Government of Western Australia is providing unprecedented support to growing its tourism industry.

"This is the kind of outcome that can be achieved when industry and government work together to create solutions."

Mariani said the total tourism budget will be allocated across three key service areas which include $36.8 million to Destinati on Marketing, $36.7million to Events Tourism and $8.2 million to Tourism Investment and Infrastructure.

She added "most importantly the Government has allocated $1.3 million per year over four years to aviation and market development in China.

"This is a tremendous recognition of the potential of the China market for tourism in Western Australia, particularly in light of the recent MoU signed with China Southern.

"The Government has recognised we need more than marketing in China and we need to build the capacity of the industry to effectively engage with this new market.

"This additional funding will allow Tourism Western Australia to focus not only on consumer marketing in China, but also on trade development and working with the Western Australian tourism industry around market readiness."

Some of the other major tourism initiatives in the budget include:

• An additional $2.65 million fo r hosting of the Australian Tourism Exchange in Perth in 2012
• $4.2 million over four years for the Kimberly Science and Conservation Strategy
• $4.7 million over four years for the V8 Supercars
• Additional $2.4 million per year over three years to create an international golf tournament in Perth.

For more information go to www.atec.net.au

28th April 2011 - ATEC WELCOMES CHINA TOURISM AGREEMENT