Tourism plans take a big hit

Tourism WA’s marketing strategy has been left in tatters after a State Budget hammer blow its boss believes will cost more than 1000 jobs.

The bombshell was dropped last week after the Barnett Government decided not to honour its pre-election commitment of a $24 million marketing increase over the next four years.

Tourism WA will instead get $9 million over three years.

The promised funding would have been used to attract more tourists to holiday in WA.

Tourism WA chief executive Evan Hall said the “broken promise” would cost WA $80 million in lost tourist dollars and 1300 jobs. He described it as “a devastating blow” to tourism towns across regional WA.

“From Broome to Busselton, tourism businesses and workers will be asking why the government doesn’t value tourism jobs and why they won’t keep their own tourism election

promise,” Mr Hall said.

Australian Hotels Association WA chief executive Bradley Woods said the decision to break the election promise made no commercial or political sense.

“We are disappointed that despite significant investment in new State infrastructure, the WA Government is prepared to put at risk, potential investment in new hotels and the creation of employment opportunities for West Australians,” he said.

In its election tourism policy, the Liberal Party promised $24 million over four years to ensure WA was “properly promoted” and secured “an adequate share of the tourism market”.

Tourism WA chairman Peter Prendiville said the decision to scale back the promised marketing funding boost was disappointing.