AGO DMP
Australia’s Golden Outback covers 54% of Western Australia. It stretches from Esperance in the south, through the Goldfields and Murchison, to the Gascoyne and Wheatbelt in the west. In 2023 it welcomed 1.42 million overnight visitors, who spent $1.15 billion. The region’s destinations range from established hubs like Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Esperance to the vast, still-developing Gascoyne Murchison.
episteme was contracted by TRC Tourism to lead the delivery of the region’s 10-year Tourism Destination Management Plan. We also prepared four Regional Tourism Development Strategies that sit within it, for the Mid West, Wheatbelt, Gascoyne and Goldfields-Esperance development commission regions. Together they address gaps in supply, demand and capability across the region.
The plan’s vision is of “a truly unique destination where visitors can traverse remarkable open landscapes, engage with connected communities and witness unrivalled natural beauty”. It is guided by four principles: expansion, diversification, connectivity and authenticity. Its goals include better aviation, self-drive and cruise access, and more varied accommodation, including station stays. It also aims to develop new experiences such as dark sky tourism, the region’s big rocks and agritourism, and to use events to spread visitors more widely. Throughout, it focuses on developing Aboriginal tourism, including hero experiences championed by Traditional Owners.
episteme led this project on behalf of TRC Tourism as part of a broader suite of plans across Western Australia: The Destination Perth destination management plan and Australia’s Coral Coast suite of plans.
