Bunbury absent from SW tourism ad

Bunbury's struggle to establish itself as a holiday destination looks set to continue after the city failed to make the cut in a new State Government tourism advertisement focusing on the South West.

The nearly two-minute video forms part of the $3.6 million Experience Extraordinary Tourism WA campaign designed to lure interstate tourists to the region.

The advertisement features Margaret River’s Smiths Beach Resort, Cullen Wines, Boranup Karri Forest and Lake Cave but footage of Bunbury is conspicuously absent.

“It’s good that Tourism WA is covering regional areas but one is disappointed not to see Bunbury included in the advertisement,” Mayor David Smith said.

“Tourists are coming to the South West in increasing numbers because of the reduction in value of the Aussie dollar.

“Our aim of course is to get more of those people who are visiting further south to come into Bunbury as part of their trip.”

Mr Smith said that increasing the number of activities on offer in Bunbury and developing a convention market were priorities.

“The completion of the BREC expansion will open up the convention market in the city considerably and we will also ideally have a major marine park or adventureland-type park in the not too distant future,” he said.

Tourism WA’s June 2013 snapshot found total visitor numbers to the South West had increased by 8.3 per cent compared with the previous year.

Tourism WA’s chief executive Stephanie Buckland said the new advertising campaign would benefit the entire South West region.

“The ad aims to raise awareness about the entire State and inspire people to plan and book a holiday in WA,” she said.

“The South West ad is also just one part of a comprehensive marketing strategy undertaken by Tourism WA.

“This strategy includes public relations, digital marketing, events marketing and cooperative marketing with tourism industry partners to promote WA tourism products in both domestic and international markets and aviation partnerships to develop new access, increase services on existing routes, and deliver affordable fares into and around WA.”