Rottnest Island developments backed by Federal and Western Australian Governments

Rottnest Island has received a double funding boost this week, being announced as the first project to receive funding through the Tourism Icons Package revealed in the recent Federal budget while also securing $16.2 million in investment for infrastructure works from the Western Australian Government.

The increasingly popular location is to receive $17.2 million as the first project to receive funding through the Tourism Icons Package.

Federal Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham announced $17.2 million funding as Perth prepared to host the 40th annual Australian Tourism Exchange - from 8th to 12th April.

Welcoming the funding, Tourism Council WA Chief Executive Evan Hall said he was delighted to see Rottnest Island identified as a national tourism icon.

Hall commented “it is great to see Rottnest Island, and Western Australia, leading the list of national tourism icons and destinations to benefit from the $50 million Tourism Icons Package announced in the recent Federal Budget.

“The funding will enable Rottnest Island visitation to grow while protecting and enhancing its unique environment, culture and Aboriginal heritage.”

Tourism Council WA advised that it had recommended Rottnest Island to the Federal Government as one of the key priorities to enhance international, interstate and intrastate tourism.

Hall added “enhancing one of WA’s most popular tourism attractions presents an excellent opportunity to grow its destination appeal and meet the needs of growing visitor numbers.

“As outlined in Tourism Council WA’s recent New Attractions for Perth policy document, there are a number of proposed experiences that will grow tourism numbers and year-round visitation for Perth and surrounds.”

The opening of the 2019 edition of the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE19) on Monday also saw Western Australian Tourism Minister Paul Papalia announce $16.2 million in investment for infrastructure works at Rottnest Island.

Committed as part of the 2019/20 Western Australian budget, the funding will see a redevelopment of the Island’s Fuel Jetty and the construction of a barge landing at the Army Jetty, to provide an alternative for logistics and freight traffic and to help to ease pressure on the Main Jetty at Thomson Bay.

Minister Papalia advised that this will enable Rottnest Island to continue to cater for the hundreds of thousands of visitors it attracts.

Minister Papalia stated "Rottnest Island continues to experience huge visitation numbers, which is why our investment towards key infrastructure is vital in ensuring the island's sustainability into the future.

"As we continue to welcome record visitors to Rottnest, a $16.2 million injection will help the Authority to continue to build on the island's appeal and sustainment into the future.”

The Tourism Icons Package initiative was announced in the 2019 Federal budget, providing funding of $50 million over three years for investment in new attractions which will help drive tourism across Australia.

Co-hosted event by the Western Australian Government through Tourism WA, ATE19 is expected to deliver about $9 million in economic benefit to the state.