A new campaign will encourage Western Australians to explore their own State on their next holiday, supporting local jobs and communities.
The Holiday in WA campaign, featuring 14 real tourism operators from across the State, will begin appearing on television and digital channels from today.
Western Australians travelling overnight in WA spend $4.4 billion in the local economy, creating approximately 57,000 jobs, particularly in regional towns.
"Western Australians travelling within the State are the backbone of our local tourism industry, with 76% of the State's overnight visitors local Western Australians," Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said.
"With the low Australian dollar making overseas holidays more expensive, it's a perfect time to explore your own backyard while making a difference to local communities and families.
"The best way to have an authentic Western Australian experience is with a genuine, local operator who is passionate about delivering great service and showcasing their culture, history, town or local environment."
Holiday in WA will encourage people to book directly with local tourism businesses, rather than through Online Travel Agents which are mostly owned by large, overseas-based corporations, and charge up to 25% commission.
"When you holiday in WA, don't let your money take a trip overseas," Mr Hall said.
"Each year, Western Australians are paying $13 million in overseas commissions to book locally based tourism product, costing WA tourism around 150 jobs.
"We'd like to ask people to consider making the conscious decision to book directly with tourism operators, ensuring their money stays in the local communities they are visiting."
The campaign website, www.holidayinwa.com.au, is a non-profit, local website, showcasing genuine, local tourism businesses. On the website, Western Australians can find local accommodation, tours and experiences, compare travellers' ratings and book direct with tourism businesses, avoiding overseas commissions.
The three campaign videos can be seen here: Holiday in WA; Book Direct; and Experience Quality Tourism Accredited Businesses.
