Western Australia is experiencing a significant surge in tourism, with the latest data from Tourism Research Australia showing impressive growth on both the international and domestic fronts.
For the year ending June 2025, the state welcomed 941,000 international visitors, a 14.9% increase from the previous year. These visitors contributed 35.8 million nights and spent $3.46 billion, up a remarkable 43.6%.
The figures indicate that WA is attracting not just more visitors, but higher-spending travellers seeking premium experiences, quality dining and unique local attractions.
Perth is emerging as a national leader in hospitality performance, too. The city now ranks third in Australia for international visitor nights, behind only Sydney and Melbourne, with 890,700 trips, 30.4 million nights and $3.04 billion in spend.
Hotel occupancy across Perth has been exceptionally strong, averaging between 74% and 86% throughout the year, with peaks in September (85.3%), October (84.5%) and November (85.9%).
This high occupancy is translating into stronger trading for hotels, restaurants and tourism operators across the city.
Regions showing strong growth
Regional Western Australia is also seeing positive impacts from the international tourism boom. International trips to regional areas rose 12.5%, with spending up 10.5%, highlighting the opportunity for communities outside Perth to benefit from the influx of visitors.
With strategic events, curated travel packages and improved air connectivity, regional destinations have the potential to further increase visitor numbers, length of stay and overall spend.
Domestic tourism remains healthy, with overnight trips up 5.1% and nights up 4% year-on-year in the June quarter. However, spend declined 14.4%, suggesting shorter stays or lower per-trip expenditure. This presents an opportunity for operators to focus on premium packages, events and experiences that encourage longer visits and higher spending, particularly from interstate travellers.
The momentum in WA’s tourism sector is clear. Investments in aviation capacity, major events, marketing and workforce development are key to sustaining this growth, supporting local jobs and boosting small businesses across the state.
For travellers, the message is simple: Western Australia is open, confident and offering exceptional value. There has never been a better time to explore the state, stay a little longer and experience all that WA has to offer.