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Tourists staying longer

Catherine MasseyBusselton Dunsborough Times
Inn the Tuarts Guest Lodge director Suzanne Keynes said they were seeing full bookings these school holidays.
Camera IconInn the Tuarts Guest Lodge director Suzanne Keynes said they were seeing full bookings these school holidays. Credit: Catherine Massey

The Cape is bursting at the seams with Perth families as tourists enjoy the school holidays.

Tuarts Guest Lodge director Suzanne Keynes said she had noticed a significant increase in the frequency and length of bookings families are making these school holidays.

“People are now choosing to stay three or four nights rather than the two-night stays we saw a lot more of before restrictions were placed,” she said.

Mrs Keynes said July was always a busy time for people touring the South West, but this year was significantly busier than last July with a 50 per cent increase.

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“We suspect the momentum of this is dependant on when interstate borders reopen, however, we are seeing bookings all the way up until Christmas.”

Research from Wotif.com this week revealed more than three in four families will now put greater importance on travel within Australia, even when international travel restrictions lift.

Eighty-four per cent of Australians surveyed said knowing their travel could help an affected community recover makes them want to travel locally this year, and this is becoming apparent in the South West region.

Tourism Council WA chief executive Evan Hall said the South West was doing better than most of the State, with 10 per cent growth in local visitors in the region.

“Accommodation, self-catering businesses, caravan parks and food and beverage are doing really well, however, tours and transport aren’t doing so well because WA people don’t usually spend money on these types of activities in their own State,” he said.

“This is where our interstate visitors are extremely important because they do spend money on this type of stuff.”

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