TOURISM —
VISITOR NUMBERS
353. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the latest available data on tourism visitor
numbers to WA.
(1) Between 20l2 and 2013 —
(a) did interstate tourist
visitors to WA increase in number;
(b) did international tourist
visitors to WA increase;
(c) did intrastate tourism in WA
increase; and
(d) did holiday and leisure tourism
in WA increase?
(2) Is there
any evidence to suggest that fatal attacks by sharks in WA have caused a
decline in tourism numbers in WA?
(3) What
opportunities exist in WA for ecotourism based around public interest in sharks
and shark research?
Hon
DONNA FARAGHER replied:
On behalf of the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Tourism, I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
(1) Yes.
(2) Tourism
numbers have not declined in Western Australia. However, there has been
substantial public concern about the safety of water-based activities in WA and
anecdotal evidence that the frequency of shark strikes was impacting on WA
businesses. For example, the recreational diving industry reported substantial
declines in people wishing to participate in the sport. Beach culture is also a
key drawcard for international visitors to WA, and a loss of confidence in
water-based activities impacts tourism and other leisure-based businesses.
(3) As part of
the state government's shark mitigation strategy, regulations 128HA and
1280A of the Fish Resources Management Regulations 1995 were introduced in 2012
to prohibit ecotourism and fishing tour operators and participants from
engaging in shark-based tourism activities involving the use of a safety cage
to protect swimmers or divers from sharks, tagging or marking of sharks and the
use of substances or equipment to attract sharks.