Boost for wa's regional visitor centres

Monday, 23 October 2017

• 33 regional visitor centres receive funding to improve operations 
• Visitor centres inject $117 million into economy and generate more than 900 jobs 

Thirty-three regional visitor centres across Western Australia have received State Government funding for projects to help make them more sustainable.

The Regional Visitor Centre Sustainability Grant Program provides $4.2 million over four years to enable regional visitor centres to transition towards financial sustainability. A funding pool of $1.05 million was offered in 2017-18 as part of the third and final round of the grant program.

Projects supported include a new fit-out and touch screen technology at the Bunbury Visitor Centre; development of a new website for the Derby Tourist Bureau; website development, IT upgrades and new signage at the Kalgoorlie Boulder Tourist Centre; and development of a business plan and training at the Geraldton Visitor Centre.

Since the launch of the scheme, more than 100 grants have been provided to regional visitor centres across WA, helping to boost tourism and employment.

For more information including a list of the successful 2017-18 funding recipients, visit http://www.tourism.wa.gov.au

Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Paul Papalia:

"Visitor centres are an important part of our tourism industry as they add $117 million into the State's economy and generate more than 900 jobs.

"Research also shows that people spend more time and money in an area when they use a visitor centre, therefore it's vital that we help them become more financially viable.

"Tourism contributed $10 billion to WA's economy in 2016, including $4.7 billion in regional areas, and is a key pillar of the Government's plan to diversify the economy, create jobs and develop business opportunities."

Comments attributed to Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:

"Regional visitor centres provide important local knowledge for visitors to WA, whose spending generates job opportunities for local people.

"With a changing tourism environment and the influence of online booking, this program has helped to make significant changes in the way WA regional visitor centres operate."