Western Australia has welcomed back its first international visitors with a warm and smiley Quokka welcome, native to Rottnest Island. The first international arrivals have landed at Perth Airport, with the visitors receiving vouchers for tours and experiences in the Perth purchased by Tourism Western Australia.
The vouchers aim to support local businesses impacted by the pandemic. Ranging in value from $150 to $2,200 each for two people, featuring tourism experiences including skydiving at Rottnest Island, swimming with dolphins or touring Penguin Island, as well as sunset stargazing at the Pinnacles.
Demand for flights to Western Australia have increased as Gary Kershaw, Regional Manager UK & Ireland at Qatar Airways explains: “Perth has always been popular with our customers, but since Western Australia announced its opening on 3rd March we've seen extraordinary demand with searches up 141% month on month and sales up 332%. It's our most popular destination in Australia for Brits at the moment.” Since international visitors have been away Western Australia has continued to develop, with the introduction of new hotels, experiences and restaurants.
Including the new Zipline on Matagarup Bridge in Perth and a luxury seafood cruises on Rottnest Island to scenic flights in the raw, untouched wilderness of the Kimberley. Plus new tours from Intrepid Travel, who are now offering a new 9-day Premium Kimberley & Bungle Bungles tours designed to support local communities and celebrate Australian heritage. And from Contiki, who have launched its first Western Australia tours with an 8-day Perth and Margaret River trip as well as a 5 day trip focussing on the gorgeous beaches of Perth, the bohemian charms and craft breweries of Fremantle and unforgettable Rottnest Island.
With such incredible landscapes to experience and more people looking for that bucket list adventure, Skyscanner has seen a 153% monthly increase in global flight searches to Perth, with the most demand coming from UK travellers for outbound travel in 2022, in the week following the announcement. Paul Whiteway, Skyscanner's Regional Director for Asia Pacific commented: “Perth is also a great hub for many international travellers looking to fly direct to Australia from major global cities.
Australians know that Western Australia has some of the country's best wineries, beaches, natural beauty, and of course the bustling city of Perth, but few international travellers may know about some of its more undiscovered destinations. For example, The Abrolhos Islands, a mid-ocean archipelago off the state's coast, was Skyscanner's chosen off the grid destination for 2021 and is an excellent spot for travellers looking for an undiscovered, off-the-beaten track travel experience in Australia.”
Managing Director of APT, the Australian tour and cruise operator, Paul Melinis said: “Western Australia is one of our biggest selling antipodean destinations for UK travellers and, as the UK's principal operator to The Kimberley, we are thrilled to see the state's borders reopen to international visitors. Our customers have been eagerly awaiting the moment when they can travel to the region again and, since the announcement, both searches and bookings for our tours and expedition cruises in The Kimberley have spiked dramatically.”
