Western Australia is pushing hard to grow its tourism economy. The state wants to hit a whopping A$25 billion in visitor spending by 2033. To make this happen, it’s focusing on two key markets: India and China.
China is already the biggest spender. In the year ending September 2024, 74,000 Chinese tourists spent A$315 million in Western Australia. The return of direct flights—like the Guangzhou-Perth route and seasonal Shanghai flights—has helped boost these numbers.
The UK still sends the most visitors. Over the same period, 114,000 British travelers arrived, many visiting friends and family. The nonstop London-Perth flight remains a major draw.
But India is the fastest-growing market. It jumped from 11th place in 2019 to 8th in 2024. Around 37,000 Indian tourists spent A$83 million last year. Now, Western Australia is working to start direct flights between India and Perth to attract even more visitors.
The state has a geographic advantage. As Australia’s western gateway, it’s closer to Europe and Southeast Asia. It’s also the only Australian state with nonstop flights to Europe, including Paris, Rome, and London.
In the past two years, Western Australia has added or restored direct flights to 20 international cities. These include Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, Tokyo, and Johannesburg. Better air links are key to bringing in more tourists.
Perth Airport is getting a major upgrade too. A 3 billion redevelopment—part of a 5 billion project—will add a new terminal and runway. Once finished, the airport will handle 4.4 million more international seats yearly, becoming the second-biggest international hub for a major Australian airline.
Tourism is a big part of Western Australia’s “Diversify WA” plan. The goal is to build a stronger, more varied economy. In 2023–24, tourism spending hit a record A$18.3 billion, showing how important international visitors are.
While direct flights to some markets are still in the works, the state is boosting one-stop routes through hubs like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. It’s also running marketing campaigns with airlines to attract more tourists from India, China, and other Asian countries.
All these efforts are part of the “Western Australia Visitor Economy Strategy 2033” (WAVES 2033). The plan aims to make the state a top global destination.
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