A SWEEPING plan to boost tourism in the City of Busselton has been unveiled by the South West Development Commission.
The plan will see millions spent on infrastructure in the area, and is a push to attract more Asian tourists to the region – specifically from China.
More than $120 million will be spent on infrastructure projects, including $85 million on the Busselton Regional Airport, in an effort to drive tourist numbers and expenditure in the region.
The Tourism Futures plan, released on Monday, outlines a five-year strategy for tourism in Busselton and the South West.
SWDC chairman Stuart Hicks said the report will guide the commission’s efforts to attract more visitors to the South West and entice them to stay longer in the area and spend more money during their stay.
“Through consultation with representatives from the local tourism industry, and the input of our tourism committee, we now have a strategy for developing the tourism potential of the region,” he said.
“We will be concentrating on infrastructure and event development, as well as the packaging of experiences for the domestic and international markets.”
Mr Hicks said tourism was an important industry to the South West, which injected millions of dollars into the region’s economy each year and provided significant employment opportunities.
“As popular as it is, we believe it has more to offer and that this strategy will help the region reach its potential in the tourism sector.”
