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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 353 asked in the Legislative Council on 3 April 2014 by Hon Lynn Maclaren

Parliament: 39 Session: 1

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.