WA domestic tourism lost $688 million in the September 2020 quarter, the latest independent National Visitor Survey results from Tourism Research Australia reveal.
While intrastate visitor spending grew by $98 million in the quarter, this was not enough to compensate for the $786 million lost from the lack of interstate visitors. These figures do not include the $580 million lost from international tourism due to border closures.
Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said the latest independent survey results from Tourism Research Australia showed Western Australia had lost more visitor dollars and jobs from the hard border than it had gained in intrastate regional tourism.
"Despite an increase in intrastate tourism, WA tourism lost $688 million across the three months to the end of September," Mr Hall said.
"The results show why it is critical that our interstate borders are now open and remain open.
"Tourism operators desperately need bookings by February, so they have the confidence to continue employing staff when JobKeeper ends in March."
Other States have opened borders alongside discounted airfares to encourage interstate tourism, such as Sydney to Adelaide from $59 and Perth to Cairns from $169.
"The industry now needs border certainty and discounted airfares to bring back interstate visitors," Mr Hall said.
"Discounted airfares are the most effective incentive to boost interstate tourism.
"The tourism industry is about to enter a period of intense competition between States for air services, events, visitors and seasonal bookings. Western Australia needs to be able to compete in the new domestic tourism market."
