The Margaret River region experienced a decline in domestic visitors in 2017, according to the National Visitor Survey.
The survey revealed WA was the only state in Australia to have a descrease in both domestic visitors and domestic visitor spend.
In an update to tourism stakeholders, Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association chief executive officer Claire Savage said from an interstate perspective, visitors had declined by 14.7 per cent.
“Visitor nights are up 27.7 per cent suggesting a longer length of stay,” she said.
“The three-year annual average growth rate still shows a decline in visitor numbers from this market of 6.3 per cent.
“Improving access to the region via the Busselton Margaret River Regional Airport will certainly help boost these figures going forward.”
Ms Savage said the association, together with Australia’s South West had reappointed an East Coast public relations representative for a further year, to help secure increased exposure for the region.
The national results follow the recent International Visitor Survey, which showed a decline in the Margaret River region of 15.8 per cent.
Ms Savage said the association would continue to focus on Singapore as a key international market and would roll out an online campaign in the coming weeks to drive visitation during winter.
She said given the findings, she was pleased regional WA was represented in Tourism WA's two year action plan, which was released last week.
“The state plays a critical role in attracting interstate and international visitors to WA, but once they arrive, it is up to all of us to make sure they get the most from their holiday,” she said.
