FACTBase Bulletin recommends new international airport for Broome

Written on the 16 August 2017

Improving aviation access to WA has been identified as a priority to improve tourism numbers.

The latest FACTBase Bulletin released by the Committee for Perth says improved access should include new international airports at Broome and Busselton-Margaret River.

"Access to Perth from key markets such as China, New Zealand and the US is lower than to the Eastern States and this is likely to impact on visitor numbers from these markets," the bulletin said.

"For example, in 2016 there were four direct flights from China to Perth a week compared with approximately 82 direct flights a week to Sydney, 54 direct flights to Melbourne and 11 direct flights to Brisbane."

However, the bulletin conceded next year's direct flights from London would increase WA's accessibility.

And WA benefited from its close proximity and relatively high accessibility to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The bulletin found tourism contributed $10.64 billion to the WA economy last year, directly and indirectly employing 109,000 people.

But while international visitor numbers to WA have shown steady growth over the past 10 years, intrastate and interstate visitor numbers have declined.

"There's no doubt that the distance to WA from major Eastern States attractions and capitals is a disadvantage,"Committee for Perth chief executive Marion Fulker said.

"However, our beaches, wildlife, unspoilt natural wilderness and island experiences provide abundant tourism opportunities in Perth and across the state."

Source: The West Australian