Cup defence gave W.A. healthy boost

Press, 31 March 1989, Page 34

Cup defence gave W.A. healthy boost

NZPA Sydney The influx of money and visitors to Western Australia during the 1987 America’s Cup challenge off Fremantle fell short of predictions, but still gave the state a healthy boost.

The event added sAust4s4 million ($596.4 million) in spending to the State economy and attracted 930,600 visitors to Perth, according to a report by the University of Western Australia’s centre for applied business research (C.A.8.R.). It transformed the historic and slightly rundown port of Fremantle, 20km out of Perth, into a resort and even local residents who were sceptical about the impact of the event have become proud to have been part of it.

“There have been no negatives at all,” said the public affairs manager of the Western Australia Tourism Commission, Mr Graham Cox.

"Before the Cup defence many of the locals resented the idea, but as the event materialised they became its staunchest supporters,” he said. The Fremantle Mayor, Mr John Cattalini, said the expected decline in activity and visitors after the defence did not occur. “Just as Brisbane expected post-Expo blues, we expected post-Cup blues, but Fremantle has become the biggest destination for day-tripping

tourists in Western Australia,” Mr Cattalini said. "The Cup proved an enormous boost to the hospitality industry and Fremantle has achieved a level of confidence, a positive self-image and a vibrance that no-one thought possible. “I’m very envious of Auckland, because the event will do so much for the city,” he said. The defending and challenging syndicates spent sAust72 million while in Fremantle. The most conservative estimates were that an extra sAust6oo million would flow into the state and Perth would host 1.2 million visitors.

The C.A.B.R. report said it was difficult to pin-point why some of the calculations were so far out. . The Western Australia State Tourism Minister, Ms Beggs, said no matter how good figures were they could not accurately show the effect of intangibles such as worldwide news media exposure and the promotion and trade opportunities flowing from the Cup series. “The report confirms that the Gup defence was an outstanding success,” Ms Beggs said.

The State received 14 per cent more visitors from October, 1986, to February, 1987, compared to the corresponding period in 1985-86, and 27 per cent more than in 1984-85, according to the

Western Australia Tourism Commission. International visitor numbers were up 94 per cent during the period of the challenge and the level of spending by visitors was sAust9s million higher than expected had the Cup series not been held.

The C.A.B.R. report found that 92 per cent of Perth and Fremantle residents surveyed watched races on television and 20 per cent braved the open seas on Gage Roads to watch at least one race.

Seventy-five per cent thought the Cup defence had improved the city’s general character and atmosphere, and a similar number were happy about the idea of another America’s Cup being held in Fremantle.

Residents reported little change to their lifestyles during the series, with traffic and parking problems balanced by increased business, more job opportunities and a more exciting atmosphere. The event also helped to lift New Zealand exports to Western Australia to record levels, according to New Zealand’s Tradecom office in Perth. Commodities which made most gains as a result of the event include paper, wool, textile machinery, beer, wine, fish, tyres, electric transformers, fruit and. vegetables.