Tourism WA to appoint east coast advocate

• ​First Tourism WA office on east coast in nearly seven years
• Enhanced presence to support work already undertaken on eastern seaboard
• Increased interstate visitor numbers to grow tourism jobs

Tourism WA will soon establish an office on the eastern seaboard, for the first time since December 2010.

The State Government-funded office will represent Tourism WA in the market, to support work already being undertaken with trade partners, including airlines, wholesalers, travel websites, travel trade training and additional public relations services.

Tourism WA is scoping options on how the service will be operated and the resources required and will consult with key industry groups and stakeholders.

The new service will be in addition to Tourism WA's current marketing activities and will report to the head office in Perth.

It comes as a direct response from the McGowan Government's first Tourism Industry Consortium held on Friday, May 19, 2017.

Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Paul Papalia:

"This decision will lead to a direct increase in visitors from the Eastern States to Western Australia.

"Visitor attraction remains the State Government's number one tourism priority - everything we are doing is about growing numbers to create jobs, develop business opportunities and diversify the economy.

"The reality is, when it comes to Eastern State residents making holiday decisions, we are competing with other States and international locations such as New Zealand, Fiji and Hawaii.

"However, I believe we have a revitalised offer here to make WA a real and viable alternative.

"We have a greater variety of accommodation at the lowest prices we've seen for ages, new infrastructure, a burgeoning food and wine scene, an exciting events calendar, spectacular regional destinations and unique experiences such as swimming with whale sharks and hump back whales."