OREANDA-NEWS. Qantas and the Western Australian government have today signed a landmark USD 7.65 million agreement to market and promote Western Australia internationally and within Australia.

The cooperative marketing agreement will target potential visitors from the United Kingdom, United States, Singapore and Australia.

Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said the agreement will deliver huge dividends for Western Australia, particularly for inbound tourism.

“Tourism is a huge economic driver for Australia, creating jobs and promoting investment and development and Qantas plays a major role in supporting that economic contribution,” Mr Joyce said.

“We are extremely proud of this new partnership which will increase visitor numbers and tourism spending across Western Australia.”

Western Australia Tourism Minister Liza Harvey said the three-year agreement between Tourism WA and Qantas was one of the biggest airline partnerships in Western Australia's history.

“The agreement will see Qantas matching State Government's investment dollar for dollar to promote WA's extraordinary destinations around the world,” Minister Harvey said.

“The partnership will play an important role in our bid to attract more domestic and international visitors to the State and increase value of tourism in WA from USD 7.5 billion in 2012 to USD 12 billion by 2020.

“Qantas is one of the world's leading airlines and its new global partnership with Emirates means it will be easier for travellers from around the world to fly to Western Australia.”

The partnership will include campaigns in key international markets including advertising special airfares and promotions around major events and activities. There will be a strong focus on digital platforms including online and social media.

Today's announcement follows similar deals between Qantas and New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory and takes the total joint investment in tourism to USD 56 million over three years.

The Qantas Group is the largest airline group operating out of Western Australia particularly on services between Perth and the East Coast of Australia.

Qantas recently announced it would be making a multi-million dollar investment in Perth Airport as it expands and upgrades its new terminal space with lounges, improved gate access and new check in areas, bringing the airline's commitment in Perth to over USD 100 million in the past four years.

Qantas also recently announced a new Perth - Auckland service, between early December and the end of January, operated by a Qantas A330 aircraft twice per week.