Perth's first-ever Rugby Union Test March a bonanza for WA tourism

6/12/98

Perth's first-ever Rugby Union Test Match proved to be a bonanza for Western Australian tourism, injecting $8.4m into the State's economy, Tourism Minister Norman Moore said today.

The match was held before a sell-out crowd of 40,000 at Subiaco Oval on the evening of Saturday, July 18.

An independent economic impact study was carried out by the David Hides Consulting Group and commissioned by EventsCorp, the Western Australianm Tourism Commission's major events agency.

"The research estimates that 1,100 South African rugby fans travelled to Perth for the Tri-nation Test against the Wallabies," Mr Moore said.

"In addition hundreds of visitors came from around Australia for the game.

"On average, spectators stayed for five days."

Mr Moore said it was results such as these which vindicated the Government's commitment to major events and the significant tourism benefits they brought.

The consulting group's research indicated the economic benefit resulted from expenditure by the visiting teams, officials, spectators and media on travel and accommodation as well as other activities during their stay for the Test match.

Western Australia received additional exposure as a result of the game through tourism 'postcard' segments broadcast to millions of television viewers throughout Europe and Asia as part of the telecast of the game.

The Test match was part of The Best on Earth in Perth series for 1998-99 - a 12-month combination of sporting and cultural events which profile Perth as an international events capital.

Mr Moore said next year's Perth Rugby Union Test between Australia and Ireland, to be played at Subiaco Oval on June 19, was already shaping well.

"Rugby union obviously has a great following in WA, and supporters have proved they are prepared to travel a long way to see a world-class match," he said.

"I look forward to welcoming international and interstate rugby union fans to WA again next year."

The economic impact result makes the rugby union Test match one of the State's biggest events in terms of economic impact over the 1997-98 Best on Earth in Perth campaign.

Media contact: Caroline Lacy 9424 7450 EventsCorp: Steve Warner 9270 3308