29/8/00
The Meetings Incentive Conference and Exhibition market had the potential to generate substantial economic benefits for the Goldfields, Tourism Minister Norman Moore said today.
Mr Moore made his comments today when he launched a MICE marketing program for the region.
He said that recently appointed Kalgoorlie-based MICE co-ordinator Christine Boase was preparing a number of bids for national and State conventions in conjunction with the Perth Convention Bureau.
These included bids to host a salinity control and land rehabilitation national conference in 2001, the Country Tourism Association State Convention in 2001 and a national agricultural conference for 320 delegates in 2002.
To demonstrate the lucrative nature of the MICE sector, a 320-delegate convention would directly inject more than $450,000 into the local economy.
“When applying the multiplier effect which calculates the full economic impact of those delegate dollars, we’re looking at close to $1 million,” Mr Moore said.
He congratulated the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder for its bold vision in contributing $30,000 towards the MICE program.
As well as a $10,000 contribution from the Perth Convention Bureau, the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission and the Goldfields Tourism Association were also providing strong in-kind support.
This commitment would ensure that the region received maximum benefits from delegates attending conferences and exhibitions.
“The program has already produced results with the region submitting a successful bid to stage a national nickel conference at the WMC Conference Centre in September this year,” Mr Moore said.
“This small but important national conference was won against bids from Perth and Melbourne.
“That in itself is a great achievement and clearly demonstrates how linking a national convention to a key local industry can produce dividends.”
Mr Moore said that the impact of the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre would provide extra opportunities for the regions by way of pre and post convention tours.
“The opportunity is for regions to capture the break-out meetings from the main congress at the new convention centre,” he said.
“These break-out meetings, commonly regarded as field trips or educational trips, travel to locations which best suit their specific area of specialisation.
“They could be attended by up to 100 or more visitors and stay for several nights or more depending on the requirements.”
Mr Moore said that with the construction of the Australian Prospectors and Miners Hall of Fame, and the city’s existing meetings infrastructure, Kalgoorlie-Boulder was well placed to win its fair share of the MICE pie.
He also congratulated the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Tourist Centre on its recent success in the Western Australian Tourism Awards, winning the category of General Tourism Services.
Media contact: Hartley Joynt - 9321 1444
