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Category: Tourism / Travel and Tourism / Government and Politics / Public Sector

Tourism WA jobs axed ahead of election

Thursday, 24 Nov 2016 12:10:41 | Andrew O'Connor

Mr Barnett (far right), with Planning Minister Donna Faragher, says the cuts will not impact tourism. (ABC News: Andrew O'Connor)

Premier Colin Barnett has confirmed jobs are being cut from the State Government department, Tourism WA.

The ABC understands up to 10 jobs will go in what the Premier - who is also Tourism Minister - described as "voluntary redundancies".

The cuts represent more than 10 per cent of the department's current 85-strong workforce.

The job losses come as the Government prepares to use tourism as a central plank in its campaign for re-election for a third term.

Mr Barnett confirmed the cuts as he inspected construction work at Yagan Square, the $73 million centrepiece of the Perth City Link project.

He said the square would be an international tourist drawcard, with a market hall and 45-metre digital tower to showcase light and video installations.

The Government previously committed to doubling the value of tourism in WA to $12 billion by 2020, a figure openly questioned by the tourism industry which said the Liberal Party was not spending enough on destination marketing.

Job numbers 'no measure of success'

But Mr Barnett said the job cuts would have no adverse impact on his Government's plan to promote tourism and increase visitor numbers.

"No, what we're doing is boosting tourism. You don't measure tourism by the number of people who work in the tourism department," he said.

Yagan Square digital tower Photo: The digital tower at Yagan Square will incorporate video screens. (ABC News: Andrew O'Connor)

"You measure it by major projects, major events, and over the coming months, the government will be announcing an giving details of some major events that will bring hundreds, if not thousands of people to this state."

The Premier was also quizzed by the media about the number of international and interstate visitors expected to be drawn to Perth for this weekend's Arcadia Spectacular show.

The UK performance, which features a 50-tonne fire-breathing mechanical spider, will include three shows and two community performances at Elizabeth Quay.

The Government contributed $275,000 in incentives to attract the show to Perth, in addition to providing free use of Elizabeth Quay.

Mr Barnett said he expected it would attract "several hundred" visitors from interstate and overseas.

"I think it performs two roles. One, it certainly does attract visitors to Perth from around Western Australia, interstate and overseas," he said.

"But also, it's fantastic entertainment for the city. It adds vibrancy to Perth and brings a lot of people into an art experience that they might not otherwise have."

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