UK arrivals to Western Australia reach 68% of pre-Covid levels

Western Australia has outperformed the rest of the country for leisure arrivals, with visitors up 5.1% year-on-year.

UK arrivals in the state are estimated to have reached 68% of pre-Covid levels between August and December this year.

Emirates and Qantas have resumed flying A380s into the state capital, Perth, increasing capacity in time for the Australian summer.

Travellers will also be able to fly direct from Victoria to Western Australia’s Coral Coast, home of the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef, on a new Qantas service starting next April.

Qantas will start the first interstate route into the region with a five-hour direct Melbourne-Exmouth service, which cuts three hours off the existing indirect journey.

An AU$22 million project in the Margaret River region will open in mid-2023 at Busselton Jetty Village.

The Busselton Village will offer locally sourced dining, a marine discovery centre, and a new underwater artificial reef trail that will include unique sculptures and statues.

Luxury small ship cruise operator Ponant will operate a new seven to 14-night itinerary along the Kimberley coast onboard the refurbished three-masted sailing yacht the Le Ponant.

Elsewhere, touring company APT has a new 21-day small ship expedition cruise along WA’s Coral Coast and Northwest coastlines on the 99-passenger MS Caledonian Sky.

Colours of the Coral and Kimberley Coast visits 21 destinations along the WA coastline, departing from Perth and finishing in Broome.

There is also a shorter 15-day Perth to Broome Colours of the Coral Coast cruise.

Tourism Western Australia is highlighting a host of other new accommodation and touring options in the state, including a nocturnal wildlife tour, dark skies experiences along the Coral Coast, and a total solar eclipse that can be seen from Ningaloo on April 20, 2023.

Picture of Perth: Rudy Balasko/Shutterstock.com