Announcing the US$2million Perth International today at the Eventscorp 2012 Calendar launch, Tourism Minister Kim Hames said the tournament would attract some of the world’s best golfers.

 

“Perth has a strong history of hosting successful international golf events, notably the Heineken Classic, Johnnie Walker Classic and the Lexus Cup, and this tournament will well and truly put the city back on the golfing map,” Dr Hames said.

 

“The Perth International is a joint initiative of Eventscorp and International Management Group (IMG) to bring another major international golf event to Perth.

 

“IMG will be the owner and promoter of the tournament, which will be sanctioned by the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia.

 

“The European Tour is currently experiencing unprecedented success and boasts the top four ranked golf players in world.”

 

This will be the only tournament in Australia to be sanctioned by the European Tour.

 

The Perth International will be played at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club, one of Australia’s finest golf courses.

 

“We have a three-year agreement for this tournament with options to continue, and our goal is to develop the Perth International into a feature event in the Asia Pacific region that is anchored in Perth,” the Minister said.

 

Other new events and support announced at today’s launch include; the Action Sports Games Mandurah, which features rounds of the Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup; new funding for the Chevron City to Surf, in particular to raise the international profile of the marathon event; and a new four-year funding deal for the opening spectacular of the Perth International Arts Festival, starting with French production Place des Anges next February.

 

Dr Hames said the record 84 events funded by Eventscorp next year will be staged in 58 locations across metropolitan and regional Western Australia.

 

“Our forecasts are that more than 1.2 million people will attend or participate in these events, they will generate more than 3,500 hours of TV coverage and be broadcast to a potential audience in the 100s of millions around the globe,” the Minister said.

 

“Importantly for WA’s tourism industry, those events are expected to generate more than 100,000 international and interstate visitor nights and deliver more than $221million worth of value to the State.

 

“This financial year the State Government has invested a record $36.7million in events and we are starting to see the rewards.”

 

As part of the funding boost announced in the May State Budget, Eventscorp will receive $40million over the next four years from Royalties for Regions for events in regional WA.

 

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said events were a crucial part of regional development and growth.

 

“The State Government recognises the value of regional events and the positive contribution they make to regional communities in making them vibrant, more exciting places in which to live,” Mr Grylls said

 

“The Action Sports Games Mandurah announced today is a great example of world-class events being held in regional WA.

 

“Royalties for Regions is also supporting a record 44 smaller and developing regional events for 2012 through Eventscorp’s Regional Events Scheme, including 26 new events announced in late November.”

 

Dr Hames said that whilst the 84 Eventscorp sponsored events for 2012 was a record, the number was expected to reach triple figures by the end of next year.

 

“More metropolitan and regional events are being assessed and will be added to the calendar in the coming year,” he said.

 

“Tourism WA has also developed a comprehensive events marketing strategy to ensure the State reaps maximum rewards from this investment in event sponsorship.”