A new report has found that the WA Government’s huge investment in national parks and conservation areas has reaped a massive financial reward.
The Deloitte Access Economics study concluded that every dollar invested in the state’s conservation estate generated more than $9 in value across the economy.
The WA Government said the findings proved that protecting and restoring the environment was a great way to strengthen regional economies, support jobs, and underpin sustainable tourism.
The report had an in-depth economic valuation of initiatives like the Kalbarri Skywalk and Dwellingup Adventure Trails, and they were seen as major success stories.
The Kalbarri Skywalk is an investment that has paid off in a big way. PIC: DBCA
Overall, WA’s conservation estate supported $2.4 billion in economic activity and 20,000 full-time equivalent jobs in 2023-24.
Aboriginal tourism operators made an important contribution to this outcome, generating $55.1 million in economic activity and supporting 514 full-time equivalent jobs.
The study found WA’s parks and reserves attracted an estimated 830,000 additional interstate and international visitors in 2023-24, generating significant benefits for regional communities.
Beyond its economic contribution, the conservation estate delivered an estimated social asset value of approximately $26.6 billion over a 30-year period, reflecting the value Western Australians place on nature, culture and recreation in the State’s parks and reserves.
Deloitte Access Economics spokesperson, John O’Mahony, said the modelling confirmed that Western Australia’s protected areas were not only iconic destinations for visitors, but significant assets.
“Looking beyond traditional economics, this is the first time the social asset value of Western Australia’s protected areas has been quantified comprehensively in this way,” he said. “This analysis shows that both the intrinsic value of the natural assets and the experiences of visitors make protected areas a social asset worth $26.6 billion to the Western Australian community.”
WA’s Acting Tourism Minister, Dr Tony Buti, said the data confirmed that the state’s national parks and World Heritage sites were world-class attractions that drew visitors from across Australia and the world.
“These spectacular locations and the infrastructure and experiences within them support thousands of jobs and inject billions into regional economies,” he said. “All while giving Western Australians and visitors to our State unforgettable nature-based tourism experiences.”
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