Business Events Perth is to receive $15 million in funding to attract business events to Western Australia, to support the state’s business event, hotel and hospitality industry.
Speaking at the WA State of the State event today at Crown Perth, Premier McGowan announced the $185 million Reconnect WA funding package, to target tourists, skilled workers, international students and events.
“Our Reconnect WA package aims to leverage what we have achieved in managing the pandemic by offering a safe and vibrant place to visit, work or invest in,” Premier McGowan said.
As well as the funding for Business Events Perth, the package includes a $65 million aviation fund directed towards re-establishing international and interstate flight routes that were disrupted by the pandemic, as well as targeting new routes including Germany, India, China and Vietnam.
In a statement Business Events Perth Chair Bradley Woods said “In 2019, Business Events Perth generated $153 million in confirmed business events with $5.3 million in funding, which is an ROI of 1:29, so we expect that this new funding from the WA State Government will generate significant economic returns for Western Australia and also support Perth’s CBD hotels which have borne the brunt of the pandemic.”
“With business event delegates spending up to five times more than their leisure counterparts and almost two thirds of delegates choosing to attend a conference in order to extend their trip to take a holiday, the business events sector has a vital role to play in the ongoing recovery of Western Australia’s overall tourism industry.” Said Woods.
Full details of the package will be provided shortly.
