US Navy personnel welcomed to Perth

14/11/93

Minister for Tourism Colin Barnett has welcomed United States Navy personnel to Perth.

Mr Barnett said the USS Abraham Lincoln Battle Group, which arrived at Fremantle last week, had been sent to deliver aid to Somalia and had spent almost 60 days at sea before visiting Perth on the way home.

More than 7,000 United States Navy and Marine Corp oficers and enlisted personnel are in Perth until Wednesday, November 17.

The visit is expected to generate about $6 million for the State.

US navy expenditure is expected to generate almost $63 million annually for the State, based on an average year of visits involving 22 vessels.

Mr Barnett said this figure was based on actual expenditure from visits during 1992-93 and involved money spent on accommodation, restaurants and general entertainment.

About 20 US naval vessels were expected to visit Fremantle in each of the next five years, involving 20,000 navy personnel annually.  The average port visit would last six days.

However, Mr Barnett said such visits to Perth were expected to increase due to the closure of the Subic Bay naval base in the Philippines.

In 1987-88, 17,000 US naval personnel visited Perth.  More than 26,000 US navy personnel visited WA in 1988-89 and 17,000 in 1989-90, with figures dropping to 3,300 in 1990-91 and 5,800 in 1991-92 due to other service commitments and the Gulf War.

"Western Australia's visitor numbers have long been considerably boosted by the regular naval rest-and-recreation visits," Mr Barnett said.

"Effective planning and servicing of requirements for such visitors will further enhance Perth's reputation as a popular 'liberty' port."

The Minister hopes the sailors enjoy their stay in Western Australia and has complimented them on their conduct while in Perth.

Media contact:  Carolyn Vicars 222 9699