Deputy Chair of Swan Bells Foundation Richard Offen.
Camera IconDeputy Chair of Swan Bells Foundation Richard Offen. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

The Bell Tower in line for WA Tourism Awards

Julian WrightEastern Reporter

AFTER a drop in visitors during the Elizabeth Quay construction phase, it is business as usual for The Bell Tower, which is now up for several WA Tourism Awards.

The tourist hot spot on the Swan River foreshore is up for three awards including major tourist attraction, cultural tourism and the Golden Guide award.

Swan Bells Foundation board deputy chair Richard Offen said visitors were coming back “in droves”.

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“(The Bell Tower) was always a popular destination but when it was in the middle of a building site, it wasn’t a popular destination for obvious reasons,” he said.

“There was a 60 per cent drop in the number of people coming in, but we always knew it would and we budgeted for it, so that was fine.

“Now we are back to proper business, people are coming back in droves.

“They’ve activated this area: on Saturdays they have a market and it’s made the Bell Tower the centre.”

Mr Offen said it was attracting weddings and corporate functions again.

The Bell Tower is up against Adventure World, Fremantle Prison, Perth Zoo, Rottnest Island and Whiteman Park for the top category major tourist attraction.

Other city-based organisations, businesses and events that are finalists include Rottnest Express, Rottnest Fast Ferries, Artrage Fringeworld Festival, City of Perth Australia Day Skyworks 2016, The Murray Hotel, Kangaroo Inn, Fraser Suites and Hyatt Regency.

The winners will be announced on November 12 .

The gold medallists will go on to represent WA at the national Australian Tourism Awards.

Full list of finalists at www.tourismcouncilwa.com.au.