Sheila McHale

Sheila McHale

Minister for Disability Services; Tourism; Culture and the Arts; Consumer Protection

    Excite. Engage. Enrich: 2008 Events Calendar launched

    13/12/2007 1:00 PM
     
    13/12/07

    Tourism Minister Sheila McHale has launched Western Australia’s 2008 Calendar of Events, along with an exciting new mountain bike event.

    Ms McHale also used today’s launch at Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre to unveil EventsCorp’s new tag line: Excite. Engage. Enrich.

    “I am delighted to launch the 2008 Calendar of Events, which features the ‘Cape to Cape MTB,’ a four-day mountain bike event from Cape Leeuwin to Cape Naturaliste,” she said.

    “Participants will navigate bush tracks, sealed roads and forest trails along WA’s South-West coastline, taking in centuries-old forest, world-renowned wine regions and some of our best beaches.

    “We have negotiated a three-year agreement to allow the event to establish itself on the national and international cycling calendars, with the possibility of it becoming a permanent fixture.”

    The Minister said the ‘The Cape to Cape MTB’, to be held from October 22-25, was a fully-serviced mountain bike tour, offering participants camping facilities, luggage cartage between stages and meal options.

    The event was open to anyone from serious competitors to leisure riders.

    Ms McHale said the 2008 calendar contained a broad mix of international, regional, and uniquely Western Australian events.

    “Hosting events delivers an economic, media and social impact for WA by generating jobs, attracting media and boosting the economy,” she said.

    “The Lexus Cup golf tournament held last week as well as the thrilling Red Bull Air Race are examples of the positive impacts events can have.

    “Some of the sporting and cultural events on the 2008 calendar include the second XXXX Gold Beach Cricket Tri Nations series, the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships and the 20th UNIMA Congress and World Puppetry Festival.”

    The World Puppetry Festival is a 10-day event expected to attract 1,000 visitors and generate $9million for the WA economy. It is the first time in its 80-year history that a country in the Southern Hemisphere will host the UNIMA Congress and World Puppetry Festival, and only the third time it has been held outside of Europe.

    The Minister said the calendar also boasted many government-supported regional events to entice visitors to regional WA and showcase the State’s diverse regions, such as:
    • the Boyup Brook Festival;
    • Geographe Bay Race Week;
    • Taste Great Southern;
    • The Ord Valley Muster in the Kimberley; and
    • Mandurah Crab Fest.
    “The Carpenter Government is making decisions to develop the State’s events tourism industry to benefit all Western Australians,” Ms McHale said.

    The 2008 Calendar of Events is available at http://www.westernaustralia.com

    Minister's office - 9213 6900