TOURISM WA’s newest ambassador has been revealed as cricket legend Adam Gilchrist, who will be travelling to India to increase international visitors numbers in the State.
Premier Mark McGowan and former cricketer Adam Gilchrist will be in India next week, as part of the State Government’s Premier-led delegation to the key WA international trading partner.
They will announce the State Government, through Tourism Western Australia, will invest an additional $1 million to encourage more Indians to holiday in WA.
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Gilchrist said he was lucky to call WA home for more than 20 years.
“Western Australia is one of the most beautiful places on earth,” he said.
“I am happy to be working with Tourism WA to get the word out in India and encourage people to come and see our magnificent State.”
The delegation joining Mr McGowan includes representatives from Perth Airport, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia and Australia India Business Council WA.
Mr McGowan and Mr Gilchrist will meet with Indian travel trade, airline representatives and media over the course of the trip, in a bid to increase leisure and business visitation to WA, with a focus on encouraging Indians to travel to WA for next year’s ICC T20 World Cup.
Tourism Minister Paul Papalia said WA had much to offer to travellers from India, whether they’re visiting for business, education or leisure.
“We know they are interested in nature and wildlife, coastlines, beaches and marine wildlife, good food, wine, local cuisine and a family friendly destination – everything WA has to offer in spades,” he said.
“India is a very important market and we will be focusing our efforts, through this new marketing investment, on further increasing visitation to WA in the lead-up to the India versus South Africa World Cup match at Perth Stadium.”
India is a growing tourism market for WA, representing the ninth largest international market for visitor numbers, and 11th largest market in visitor spend.
There was an 11.1 per cent overall growth in visitor numbers from India in the year ending June 2019, with leisure visitors increasing by 15.3 per cent.
Premier Mark McGowan said growing the State’s economy and creating local jobs would be the number one priority for the official visit to India.
“India is a key trading partner with our State, and we expect that relationship to grow to the benefit of both India and Western Australia,” he said.
“We know India loves their cricket and Gilly is a living legend over there, so he will be a major asset in promoting WA.”
This $1 million investment follows other initiatives to boost WA tourism this year, including direct flights to Tokyo and Shanghai.
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