New State Government office to expand national park tourism options

WA’s national parks will be bolstered by a wave of new businesses in a bid to draw more visitors from abroad, as the Government seeks to establish a tourism division within the responsible Department. Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions — which manages all of WA’s natural drawcards — will soon recruit an executive director for the Department’s new tourism section, the Government will announce today. The group will be responsible for attracting more businesses to operate in national parks, joining more than 500 tourism operators across the State already in the protected areas. It comes off the back of a bumper year for visitation which saw more than 24 million visits to WA national parks last financial year, including the Kalbarri Skywalk and the Tree Top Walk, as well as UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Ningaloo Coast and Shark Bay. Kings Park and Perth Zoo — also managed by BCA — respectively welcomed more than five million and 800,000 visitors during the same period. WA’s national parks are already home to almost 500 businesses with Environment Minister Reece Whitby saying they should be as open and accessible as possible. “This new division will prioritise our State’s natural assets and elevate the economic contribution WA national parks make to our regional economies,” he said. “We want to see new experiences and commercial developments that showcase our world-class national parks and create employment and local business opportunities.” The West understands some of the considerations for the new office would include hospitality outlets and short-stay accommodation options where appropriate within national parks. Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti said the State’s national parks were a critical attraction for tourists. “We know that visitors and the money they spend support our local operators, create local jobs and helps to diversify our economy, which is why we’re creating this new division within DBCA to amplify and keep driving these outcomes,” she said. Tourism Council WA chief executive Evan Hall said nature-based tourism was the main reason visitors came to Western Australia for a holiday. “Sustainable tourism businesses not only create jobs but ensure minimal environmental visitor impact and help protect and promote our National and Marine Parks,” Mr Hall said. “Sustainable tourism also creates revenue for conservation and education, as well as tourism jobs in our regional towns. “Tourism Council WA particularly welcomes the focus on new commercial tourism projects, as tourism businesses want to invest in nature-based experiences for National Park visitors.”