Tourism in Cape Town continues to experience mixed results, although the state government speaks of a general boom in tourist spending.
The latest figures from Tourism Research Australia confirm a significant increase in the prices travellers spend on their holidays in Western Australia.
At the same time, these figures did not adequately take into account the increased cost of doing business, meaning that the boom for operators in the Augusta-Margaret River and Dunsborough-Busselton regions was smaller than expected.
Sharna Kearney, chief executive of the Margaret River-Busselton Tourism Association, said the tourism landscape had evolved post-COVID-19 and the boom in tourists to Perth had eventually returned somewhat to pre-pandemic levels.
At the same time, efforts continued to regain a foothold in international markets – but the goal had not yet been achieved.
International visits were still below 2019 levels, and although the Perth market also saw a decline, figures showed visitors stayed more nights and spent more money than before the pandemic.
However, the three-year average saw a decline of 5.1 percent in domestic guests and 7 percent in overnight stays.
International figures – which are less accurate – amounted to almost 89,000 people, compared to the peak in 2019 when 141,200 travelers were registered.
“It is positive that the value of tourism for our region has increased, even though our region is receiving fewer visitors than before COVID-19,” she said.
“Most tourism companies had expected visitor numbers to normalise after the post-pandemic highs of recent years and are now reporting declining visitor numbers, more significant fluctuations in visitor numbers and shorter booking lead times.
“The increase in total visitor spending does not necessarily mean improved company profitability, as costs have increased significantly over the same period,” Ms Kearney said.
“It is critical that we continue to focus on the full recovery of our interstate and international markets, as these markets help drive off-peak visitor numbers, creating a more sustainable operating environment for businesses all year round.”
Sean Blocksidge, chief executive of Margaret River Discovery Co., told the Times that major uncertainties remained as the industry emerged from the “corkscrew spiral” of the pandemic.
“Tourism is a constant rollercoaster ride with ups and downs,” he said.
“I hope we are on the up, but unfortunately costs are dragging many operators down.
“We have lost a lot of really great small operators in recent years. That’s tough.”
Mr. Blocksidge was TripAdvisor’s highest-rated travel guide and held that top position for 17 years.
He noted that visitor numbers from the UK had picked up over the summer and Singaporeans were returning to the region, but interstate markets remained sluggish.
“I like that MRBTA and Tourism WA are focusing on showcasing experiential tourism operators and what they call the ‘Dream Collective,'” he said.
“It gives me hope for the future direction of the roller coaster.”
Several operators interviewed by The Times said that while more people than ever were coming to their hotels, cost-of-living pressures were still affecting tourists’ spending habits.
The same pressure also drove up costs for operators, and constant tariff increases and high interest rates caused them headaches.