This year's Telecom Rally Australia produced an estimated return to the State of more than $14 million, Premier Carmen Lawrence said today.
Dr Lawrence said an independent survey by Reark Research indicated that the economic impact of the September event was slightly more than in the previous year.
"The Government is delighted with the outcome of the rally," the Premier said.
"The event provided a significant boost to short-term employment in various service sectors while offering a wide range of opportunities to promote the State around the nation and around the world.
"Many small businesses along the rally's 2,000 kilometre route - service stations, shops, cafes, and so on - reaped significant financial rewards for several weeks.
"There has been a similar story from sponsors and companies involved in the event, some of whom have already reported increases in business as a result of their association with the rally and through on-site exposure of their products or services."
Dr Lawrence said Telecom Rally Australia was a bonanza for the tourism industry.
"As a result of record entries, the event was directly responsible for 5,000 room nights in Perth hotels and more than $790,000 worth of travel on the official carrier, Qantas," she said.
Dr Lawrence said that in addition to the immediate economic impact, the rally offered the State important long-term benefits.
"Throughout the event, the cameras of hundreds of national and international media organisations beamed pictures of Perth and the Western Australian countryside to millions of people around Australia and around the world.
"Their coverage was like a giant tourism advertisement for the State. It also put the focus on Perth as a vibrant city able to host world-class events with professionalism, style and efficiency," Dr Lawrence said.
The event had received high praise from the sport's world governing body - FISA - and international teams who described the rally as one of the best on the world circuit.
