The Margaret River region is set to benefit from an increase in tourism employment over the next five years.
A report released by the Australia Tourism Labour Force last week has suggested that tourism will grow as a major employer for the South West over the next five years, with close to 13,000 new workers needed in the industry by 2020.
The report shows 12,964 workers will be needed in the WA tourism industry, including more than 5,800 skilled workers.
Currently, there are almost 7000 full time equivalent employees engaged in the South West’s tourism sector.
Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association CEO, Pip Close believes the growth will have many benefits for the Augusta-Margaret River region.
“Tourism employment is vital for the region’s economy; the sector employs a large number of the local population who in turn spend their money in local businesses,” Ms Close said.
Being a prime tourist destination, the Margaret River Region is a major supplier to tourism employment all year round, with demand spiking just before the peak summer period.
“Tourism provides economic diversification and makes the region a great place to live and work.
“In fact, tourism has been identified by Deloitte Access Economics as one of the five growth industries in Australia over the next few decades.”
Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said while the potential growth was good for Western Australia, the State must capture the Australia-wide boom in tourism to realise the employment opportunity.
“This growth in the number of new workers needed in tourism in Western Australia has the potential to replace losses which come from other industries such as mining,” Mr Hall said.
Many of these new opportunities across the state will come from more than 2,000 hotel rooms which are due for completion over the next few years.
