New Tourism minister David Templeman wants cheap flights for Perth to cash in on domestic tourism boom

New WA Tourism Minister David Templeman is urging the Federal Government to include Perth in a $1.2 billion cheap flight scheme to get cashed-up Australians taking domestic holidays. Mr Templeman has written to Federal Tourism Minister Dan Tehan requesting Perth be included in the Government’s Tourism Aviation Network Support program, which will provide about 800,000 half-price airfares on nominated routes. From next month through to July, half-price fares will be available to and from several regions that normally rely heavily on international visitors. Broome is one of the destinations, along with the Gold Coast, Cairns, Alice Springs and Kangaroo Island. Melbourne and Sydney have been excluded from the program, but Mr Templeman argues that Perth is a special case. “I feel it appropriate to point out that as Australia’s most isolated city, Perth’s out-of-State tourism market is heavily reliant on aviation access as currently around 94 per cent of out-of-State visitors travel by air,” he said in his letter. “Additionally, 83 per cent of all international spend throughout WA is spent on the Perth region. “Perth acts as the gateway to all regions within WA, as currently only one of these (Broome) has a direct flight from interstate. “I understand three capital cities, Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin, have now been included in the TANS program, having been given special considerations as each acts as a gateway to specific tourism regions within their respective States. I would ask for the same consideration to be given to Perth.” COVID-19 has changed the face of tourism across Australia as the nation has been forced to “stay home”. “In the period between April and December 2020, short-term international visitor arrivals to WA declined by 99 per cent,” Mr Templeman told Canberra. With international travel still perhaps a year away, all States and Territories want people to holiday at home. “If Perth is not included in the program, the risk for a net negative impact to tourist numbers as a direct result of the TANS program for WA is high,” Mr Templeman said. “For months, the State Government has been encouraging West Australians to holiday in their own State in an effort to support businesses and industries, particularly in the regions. “Once the TANS program comes into effect, it is highly likely the State will see a high percentage of West Australians choosing to holiday elsewhere in Australia.”