TravTalk India Online Magazine
Roger Cook, Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism of Western Australia, during the recent CAPA India Aviation Summit in New Delhi, held discussions for better aviation connections between India and Western Australia and sought direct flights to Perth to tap the Indian market.
Janice Alyosius
Roger Cook, Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism of Western Australia (WA), recently attended the CAPA India Aviation Summit in New Delhi and discussed starting of direct flights from India to Perth. Cook also met top airline officials during the two-day visit and talked about developing direct aviation connections between the two destinations.
Outlook for India market
The minister emphasized that India is an important market for Western Australia, and the state provides a unique tourism experience. “Although international visitation is currently at 85 per cent of pre-COVID levels, the Indian market has already exceeded pre-COVID levels, and we are optimistic about its potential. Currently, travellers from India reach Western Australia through travel connections via Singapore, but discussions with both Australian and Indian airlines are underway to explore the possibilities of direct flights between India and Perth. We are confident that direct aviation links between India and Perth will be established in the medium term, and the success of our efforts to establish these connections will allow us to tap into even greater tourism potential for Western Australia,” he said.
Focus segment
With the growing diaspora of Indians in Western Australia, the key focus is to tap into the ‘Visiting Friends and Relatives’ market and encourage travellers from India to stay longer and explore more of Western Australia. “Currently, 80 per cent of the traffic between India and Australia comprises visits to friends and relatives (VFR), while the remaining 20 per cent is related to leisure and business travel. However, we have observed a steady growth in leisure and business travel, and we expect it to become a more significant proportion of our overall visitations in the future,” the minister said.
Connectivity
As per the minister, Western Australia has identified India as a key market and is dedicated to enhancing aviation connections between the two regions. “Establishing direct air connectivity between India and Perth would bring immense benefits to the tourism industries of both regions. Although airlines that fly to Perth currently play a vital role in connecting the destinations, a direct airline service is yet to be established between India and Western Australia, which presents a massive opportunity for growth,” he said. The Western Australian Government is collaborating with the Indian tourism and aviation sectors as well as Perth Airport to tap the potential of Indian market. “Indian visitor numbers to Western Australia have been increasing over the years, and the Indian market has already surpassed the pre-COVID levels. In 2019, more than 30,000 travellers from India visited the state, and currently, India ranks as Western Australia’s 4th largest international market for visitor numbers in 2023,” revealed the minister.
Tourism Western Australia is committed to establishing Perth as the Western Gateway to Australia. The AUD $195 million Reconnect WA package supports the Western Australia’s efforts by investing in marketing, event development, and visitor experiences.
