Western Australia's south sees 'massive' drop in winter tourists

The winter tourism industry in Western Australia's south is facing a challenging season, with businesses reporting a substantial drop in visitor numbers. From Denmark to Bremer Bay, operators are observing a noticeable decline that is directly affecting their revenue.

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I can confirm visitor numbers are certainly down.

Christine Weston, owner of Southern Coast Escapes in Denmark, confirmed the downturn, stating that while there have been some last-minute bookings, the overall trend is a significant reduction in visitors. This quiet season is forcing accommodation providers to lower prices to attract customers, impacting their overall income. Weston attributes this hesitancy to book far in advance to global economic uncertainty and concerns over fuel security.

Tour operators in the region, particularly those focused on whale watching, are also feeling the pinch. Aaron Franaigh, a tour operator, described the drop as "massive," noting that his boat, which is usually full during school holidays, is now operating at half capacity. This reduction in bookings is a significant worry, as tourism is the primary source of income for his business to remain operational.

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If there's a lot of availability, the prices automatically get adjusted down. So it is affecting our revenue.

Similar concerns are echoed in Bremer Bay, where Fiona Murray, manager of the Community Resource and Visitor Centre, likened the current situation to the impact of COVID-19. She highlighted fuel prices as a major issue contributing to the decline. Further north in Augusta, Paul Zip, a whale-watching charter operator with 18 years of experience, observed a stark absence of the usual crowds of caravans, trailers, and campervans, indicating a widespread lack of tourist activity.

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With the diesel fuel supply being a little bit insecure as well … I think there's just a bit of uncertainty in the world and people don't want to commit too far out.

Sophie Zalokar, manager at Australia's South West National Tourism Organisation, acknowledged the difficult period for the industry, citing cost of living pressures as a significant factor. The combination of economic uncertainty, rising costs, and a general sense of global instability appears to be making travelers more cautious about committing to holiday plans.

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Everyone's holding on to their money. No-one's forward-looking at the moment.