Western Australia tourists spending big as key markets return after Covid-19

A 12-year agreement will unlock a wave of investment and deliver new international and domestic flights as Australia’s largest state says tourists are flocking back and spending more money than ever.

Travellers are spending more than ever before in WA as the state bounces back from the pandemic. Photo: Tourism WA

Western Australia will seek to diversify and target new tourist markets as visitors flock back to the state after it was sealed off for much of the pandemic, with a goal to position Perth as the western gateway to Australia.

Tourism WA said while tourist numbers were yet to exceed 2019 levels, the state was now attracting higher-yielding visitors, with total spending hitting a record high of $17.9bn in the past year.

That marks a $200m increase from 2023 and is $4.4bn or 32 per cent ahead of pre-pandemic ­levels.

The state government this month announced a $585m investment over four years to increase tourism and a $75m fund to attract airlines.

Tourism WA acting manager director Steph Underwood told The Australian the state would look to explore new air links, and a multibillion-dollar deal between Qantas and Perth Airport, to make the state capital the western gateway to Australia, in line with Sydney’s role as the eastern hub.

Aerial view of the Horizontal Falls, Talbot Bay. Photo Tourism WA

Qantas and Perth Airport in May signed the agreement which will unlock a wave of investment and deliver new international and domestic flights. The 12-year deal will see Perth build a new terminal and runway, while Qantas will add 4.4 million seats to and from the WA capital by 2031.

The hub will significantly enhance inbound tourism and give Australians more options when travelling to Asia, Africa, India and Europe.

“The agreement between Qantas and Perth Airport is a game-changer,” Ms Underwood said.

“The commitment to base aircraft and pilots unlocks lots of potential to cement Perth as the western gateway into Australia, which offers a lot of opportunities for the tourism industry and the whole of Western Australia.”

The addition of direct flights to Paris by Qantas, in addition to London and seasonal Rome services, is expected to increase inbound tourism from Europe. Ms Underwood said the French market was back to pre-Covid levels and had proved popular with eco-conscious Europeans.

“We’re very confident that this new direct link will see that grow more and on the back of it we have increased our investment into France,” she said.

Qantas and Perth Airport have signed an agreement to make WA the western gateway to Australia. Picture: Emma Kirk

“The (French market) is really positive about the opportunity of the direct flight and the sustainability that provides for the European visitor with a direct flight, which reduces their emissions – a key consideration for them.”

Britain was the main international market for WA, with 115,300 visitors who spent $209m in 2023. But 65,700 Chinese tourist arrivals spent on average $4612 for a total of $303m.

The second-largest market is Singapore by both visitor spend and volume of inbound travellers, with 92,000 visitors injecting $258m.

Ms Underwood said tourism was going from strength to strength in the state as travellers also spent longer in WA than they had before the pandemic.