The countdown has begun for the 2010 Hyundai Hopman Cup with Tourism Minister Liz Constable today launching the event at the official tournament draw.
Dr Constable said this year’s Hyundai Hopman Cup in January attracted around 570 interstate and international visitors to the State.
“These visitors generated more than 5,700 visitor nights and boosted our economy by $1.9million,” the Minister said.
“More than three million viewers in our key international markets tuned in for the television coverage, helping us show off our extraordinary State.”
The Minister said the Hopman Cup was a significant part of Western Australia’s events calendar and one of many diverse events supported by the State Government.
“It is diversity and vibrancy that make a city an exciting and appealing tourism destination, as well as a great place to live, and we’ve got to capitalise on WA’s potential to be such a place,” she said.
“The success of the recent One Movement for Music Festival demonstrated the importance of the Government striking a balance between its support of arts and cultural events, and sporting events.”
Dr Constable said an estimated 50,000 people attended the inaugural One Movement for Music Festival held in Perth recently.
“One Movement for Music Perth saw 174 acts perform on the Esplanade in Perth and on the city streets, transforming the city into a thriving cultural centre which was alive with music from all over the world,” she said.
“We’ve heard from Australian musicians now being courted by international record labels after their appearance at the festival and from international artists who say they will definitely come back to Perth and will be encouraging others to also.
“The potential of this new event for future years is very exciting.”
The Minister said it is important to note around 90 per cent of the Eventscorp events budget is currently spent on sporting events, with less than 10 per cent dedicated to arts and cultural events.
“So while sports fans in WA can be reassured that we’ll continue to host world-class sporting events such as the Hopman Cup, 2011 ISAF World Sailing Championships, international rugby tests and Ironman WA Triathlon, we do believe it’s important to offer a range of events such as the One Movement for Music Festival and Sculpture by the Sea,” she said.
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