The State Government must take responsibility for the dramatic decline in interstate tourism numbers.

Tourism WA has reported a 30 per cent slump in the number of people holidaying this side of the border, a figure CSPU/CSA Secretary Toni Walkington said needed addressing.

After the Regional Tourism Review in February 2010 the Barnett Government slashed the number of Tourism WA full-time equivalent employees by 40 per cent, which Ms Walkington said was responsible for a tourism black hole.

Tourism WA was forced to close regional offices in Broome, Hedland, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Bunbury, Albany and Kalgoorlie,  limiting marketing potential along with scrapping regional planning and product development.

Ms Walkington said the centres helped promote local businesses and organised visitor campaigns in the areas, often being the first point of contact for visitors.

“Clearly staff cuts have had an impact on our tourism numbers which is something the economy can’t afford to sustain,” Ms Walkington said.

“There are already many sectors of the WA community that are feeling the brunt of the Barnett Government’s cutbacks and this is just another blow.

“We call on the Government to reinstate those jobs, which in some areas are now being done by volunteers.”

She said it was a clear-cut example of the Government abandoning its responsibility in those areas.

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