Tourism Western Australia recently hosted a group of domestic Retail Agents, Wholesalers and Inbound Tour Operators on a famil to experience the ‘new Perth.’
To qualify for the famil, Agents had to attend a Buyer or Agent session at the Just Another Day in WA East Coast Roadshows held in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane throughout May.
One lucky winner was drawn from each session to visit Perth and consolidate the new product knowledge gained from the Roadshow.
The Perth famil itinerary included a VIP experience at the new Optus Stadium for the West Coast Eagles versus Essendon Bombers AFL match, a visit to the new Scarborough Beach redevelopment and the iconic Rottnest Island, a tour of the Swan Valley – the city’s very own world-class wine region – and Segway and walking tours of Perth city and surrounds.
It aimed to show what experiences can be included in a two to five-day holiday in Perth, educating participants about the recent changes that have taken place across the city, and showcasing Perth’s many day trip options – which are easily accessible from the CBD in under an hour.
Image: Rottnest Express/Facebook
Feedback from the famil has been extremely positive, with participants heaping praise on the changes happening in WA’s capital.
Rebecca Maitland from Luxury Escapes was notably impressed with the Swan Valley region and Perth’s significant growth.
“I was always a fan of the Margaret River region, but with the Swan Valley only 25 minutes from the city you can incorporate some excellent wineries, breweries, distilleries.”
Rebecca Maitland from Luxury Escapes
“Perth certainly surprised me with its significant investment in growth. The newly opened Yagan Square was just amazing, I feel it’s fast becoming a city with it all,” she said.
Perth has undergone a rapid transformation over the past few years, with a flurry of new bars, restaurants, shopping and cultural precincts opening alongside major infrastructure developments.
Since 2012, 29 new or redeveloped hotels have opened in and around Perth, adding more than 2,800 new rooms to the local market.
By 2020, a further 12 new or redeveloped hotels will come online, adding another 2,700 new rooms.
Among the names still to come are the QT, Doubletree by Hilton and the Ritz-Carlton, which will be
its first Australian property in 10 years.
Perth also became the first Australian city to be directly connected to Europe in March, when Qantas began its daily London to Perth service – meaning that travellers can consider Perth for a stopover when heading to and from the UK.
Over 130 agents and 82 ITOs with 37 sellers attended the workshops held in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane for the East Coast Roadshows.
The activity aligns with Tourism WA’s Two-Year Action Plan to change perceptions of Perth and reignite awareness and interest on the east coast.
READ:Not long until the Margaret River Regional Airport opens
READ: WA to welcome new hotels, winery tours & a new airport
