Perth to play host to major business events showcase

Perth will get the opportunity to lure in more international travellers after it was selected to host Australia's largest business and incentive events showcase.

Dreamtime is Australia's signature event for showcasing business and incentive experiences to international business events buyers and media. Incentive travel is used by businesses around the world to recognise, reward and motivate their employees.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham said Dreamtime would have significant flow on effects for years down the track for local businesses and the West Australian economy.

"Incentive travel can be very lucrative for cities and this is a massive opportunity for Perth to show buyers and travel agents why it should be considered as a destination of choice.

"Perth will have the chance to show-off its unique experiences and attractions whether it be searching for quokkas on Rottnest Island, watching an AFL game at the new Optus Stadium or heading out to the Pinnacles.

"It's been a good week for Western Australian tourism with new figures showing an eight per cent spike in domestic visitor figures last financial year.

"Business events are extremely valuable to our economy, with the average business events visitor spending at least twice as much as a leisure visitor. Last year business events and incentive travel injected around $4.75 billion into the Australian economy and brought an extra one million people to our shores."

This event is part of the Liberal-National Government's continued focus on the business events industry, with Tourism Australia recently launching its $12 million Business Events Bid Fund Program which has already delivered six business events for Australia.

In addition, Tourism Australia is hosting the Greater China Business Events Showcase in Melbourne in November 2018, which is aimed at attracting more business events from the lucrative North-Asia market.

Dreamtime 2019 will run from 2 to 3 December in Perth. Dreamtime is organised by Tourism Australia and is held every two years in a different Australian city.

For more information on business events in Australia go to www.businessevents.australia.com.