Tourism Council WA: Industry concern with tourism restructure in midst of visitor downturn

Tourism Council WA urged (20-Jun-2017) the Western Australia Government to reconsider submerging Tourism WA into a new department, as the latest visitor statistics show a decline in the number of people travelling to and within the State. The State Government announced plans to absorb Tourism WA, the independent agency responsible for promoting WA, into the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation as part of its Machinery of Government changes. Following the announcement of the restructure, tourism businesses and industry bodies across WA voiced significant concerns with the potential impact of the changes. Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall stated: "States that are performing well in domestic tourism, such as Queensland, have specialist tourism marketing organisations solely focused on increasing visitation and jobs. Every state that has submerged their tourism marketing organisation within a department has regretted and later reversed the decision." [more - original PR]