WA on track to seal US$100m MICE business
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The Perth Convention Bureau (PCB) is on track to exceed AU$100 million (US$100 million) in the value of business events for the 2010-11 financial year, according to Tourism Minister Dr Kim Hames. Dr Hames said that at the half-way stage of the year, the PCB had secured conventions and incentive travel groups that are expected to inject more than AU$52 million in direct delegate expenditure into the local economy over the next five years.
“This performance reflects the importance of the business events sector to the state’s tourism revenues,” Dr Hames said. “The growth of this sector is particularly welcomed at a time when other areas of tourism right across Australia are being challenged by factors such as the very strong Australian dollar and intense competition from low cost airfares to overseas destinations.”
In the first six months the PCB has secured 51 national and international conventions and 24 incentive travel groups which are expected to collectively attract more than 27,600 delegates to the state.
Dr Hames said the recent successful bid to secure the international gas conference LNG18 for Perth in 2016, when more than 5,000 delegates are expected to attend, had provided a substantial boost to the Bureau’s half-year sales results.
“This conference alone is expected to deliver a AU$10 million plus boost for the economy,” the Minister said. “The business events sector has been performing strongly for the past four years which can be attributed the Bureau’s success in focusing on securing conferences that match the state’s areas of excellence in the medical, mining and resources, education, technology and marine industries.”
Established in 1972, the PCB is responsible for marketing Western Australia as a business events destination embracing conventions, exhibitions and incentive travel groups. It receives its funding from the state government, the city of Perth and private sector based membership.
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