Accommodation Figures Show Margaret River Doing Well
Margaret River has had one of its best starts to a winter season.
Latest Australian Bureau of Statistics Survey of Tourist Accommodation figures show occupancy at Margaret River hotels, motels and serviced apartments increased from 43.5%, in the same period last year, to 46.3% this year.
Accommodation operators were able to lift room rates by 3.4% to an average of $153.64 per room – bringing more than $2.5 million into the local economy – and to employ an extra 175 people.
Augusta-Margaret River Tourism Association chief executive officer Simon Ambrose said he believed the winter trend would continue into summer.
“Many tourism operators in the region – not just accommodation, have had a difficult winter, so this is an interesting statistic to see come through, hopefully showing a new trend for tourism, not just in the South West but Australia wide. Our forward bookings for the upcoming season are looking steady and the AMRTA and its members are looking forward to a busy summer season, in particular the Christmas and New Year period.
Tourism Council WA chief executive officer Evan Hall also welcomed the statistics. “The figures showed a partial recovery in local tourism in Margaret River after the disappointing season in 2010,” he said. “This is good news, not just for local hotels but for all the shops, restaurants and cafes in town that benefit from the tourist trade.”
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