Study reveals Ningaloo Coast an economic hub for WA

Published on Thursday, 7 January 2021 at 10:35:00 AM

The World Heritage listed Ningaloo Coast generated more than 1,000 jobs and contributed an additional $110 million to the Western Australian economy last year, a study has revealed.

The Deloitte Access Economics study, commissioned by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), indicates tourism made up 90 per cent of economic contribution to the area, followed by commercial fishing, recreational activities, scientific research and reef management.

In the 2018-19 financial year an estimated 218,000 people visited the Ningaloo Coast and spent about 1.3 million nights, while there were about 61,000 daytrip visitors. One quarter of visitors were international, and each holidaymaker spent an average of $137 per day.

Ningaloo is estimated to have supported more than 1,000 full time jobs in WA in 2018-19, with employment concentrated in tourism-related industries.

The study forms part of the Resilient Reefs Initiative, delivered by DBCA on the Ningaloo Coast and initiated by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation in collaboration with UNESCO World Heritage Marine Programme, The Nature Conservancy's Reef Resilience Network, Columbia University's Center for Resilient Cities and Landscapes, Resilient Cities Catalyst and AECOM. The program is enabled by the BHP Foundation.

The report is available on DBCA's Resilient Reefs Ningaloo web page.

WA Government media statement: Study reveals Ningaloo Coast an economic hub for WA

Back to All News