❓ Opposition questions the government's commitment to regional tourism marketing amid budget cuts. The Minister defends the government's investment and cites successful tourism developments in regional areas.
AnsweredQoN 270Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Destination marketing—Funding
270. Mr Scott Leary to
the Minister for Tourism:
I have a
supplementary question. How does the minister expect regional tourism
businesses to grow their visitor numbers when government is cutting the
marketing that brings them there in the first place?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Sorry, member. Members, there is too much
toing and froing across the chamber. I did not hear the question from the
member. Member for Albany, ask it again, please.
Mr Scott Leary: How does the minister expect regional
tourism businesses to grow their visitor numbers when government is cutting the
marketing budget that brings them there in the first place?
270. Mr Scott Leary to
the Minister for Tourism:
I have a
supplementary question. How does the minister expect regional tourism
businesses to grow their visitor numbers when government is cutting the
marketing that brings them there in the first place?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Sorry, member. Members, there is too much
toing and froing across the chamber. I did not hear the question from the
member. Member for Albany, ask it again, please.
Mr Scott Leary: How does the minister expect regional
tourism businesses to grow their visitor numbers when government is cutting the
marketing budget that brings them there in the first place?
AnswerView source ↗
We are supporting
tourism like never before. We are investing in events. We are investing in
marketing, and we are getting real results. I think the results are there to
show that this is having an impact. I can also talk about the occupancy rates
in Perth hotels. I can also talk about—
Mr Lachlan Hunter: What about in regional WA
and Albany?
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Reece Whitby: Absolutely! I welcome the
interjection because I can talk about that. I have just come from Albany, where
we were talking about the tourism potential being realised across the Great
Southern. We were talking about the Hilton Hotel down there in Albany, which is
one of the most successful Hiltons in Australasia. I can talk about regional tourism.
I can talk about the Hilton in Busselton, which is also one of the most
successful for occupancy rates in Australasia, which is why they are building a
second Hilton in Busselton. We are having a real impact. No-one has done more, and
regional tourism is an actual measured outcome in visitation right across Western
Australia.
Several members
interjected.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
Mr Reece Whitby: What is that, member? Here we go!
The Speaker: Members, you do not get to keep asking
questions across the floor. Minister, if you could conclude your comments.
Mr Reece Whitby: I just want to wrap up, Speaker. The
interjection from the member for Vasse was quite extraordinary, given that she
stood on a beach and opposed an important tourism development down at Smiths Beach.
You cannot have it both ways, members over there.
The Speaker: Thank you, members. Members, I would just
like to draw your attention to the time. Question time went longer than I would
like today, and a big reason for that is that the majority of the government's
answers to their own questions were much longer than they should have been.
That concludes question time, members.
tourism like never before. We are investing in events. We are investing in
marketing, and we are getting real results. I think the results are there to
show that this is having an impact. I can also talk about the occupancy rates
in Perth hotels. I can also talk about—
Mr Lachlan Hunter: What about in regional WA
and Albany?
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Reece Whitby: Absolutely! I welcome the
interjection because I can talk about that. I have just come from Albany, where
we were talking about the tourism potential being realised across the Great
Southern. We were talking about the Hilton Hotel down there in Albany, which is
one of the most successful Hiltons in Australasia. I can talk about regional tourism.
I can talk about the Hilton in Busselton, which is also one of the most
successful for occupancy rates in Australasia, which is why they are building a
second Hilton in Busselton. We are having a real impact. No-one has done more, and
regional tourism is an actual measured outcome in visitation right across Western
Australia.
Several members
interjected.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
Mr Reece Whitby: What is that, member? Here we go!
The Speaker: Members, you do not get to keep asking
questions across the floor. Minister, if you could conclude your comments.
Mr Reece Whitby: I just want to wrap up, Speaker. The
interjection from the member for Vasse was quite extraordinary, given that she
stood on a beach and opposed an important tourism development down at Smiths Beach.
You cannot have it both ways, members over there.
The Speaker: Thank you, members. Members, I would just
like to draw your attention to the time. Question time went longer than I would
like today, and a big reason for that is that the majority of the government's
answers to their own questions were much longer than they should have been.
That concludes question time, members.
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