More than 2,000 delegates will descend on Perth over the next week to take part in one of the world's biggest travel trade shows, the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) 2012.

Tourism Minister Kim Hames said close to 700 travel buyers from 40 countries, including some of the most influential members of the travel industry, would attend the event at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre (PCEC).

"ATE provides the perfect platform for Australian tourism businesses such as airlines, tour operators and accommodation providers to promote and sell their products to international travel buyers," Dr Hames said.

"The Western Australian Government is proud to support this prestigious event, through Tourism Western Australia, and has contributed more than $2.8million towards the cost of bringing ATE to WA for the third time."

In addition to the expo at PCEC, the event will be supported by an extensive familiarisation program which will see about 390 delegates participate in 46 trips across the State.

"The familiarisation program run by Tourism WA will give industry heavyweights the chance to experience our extraordinary State first hand and learn more about the products and experiences available in WA," the Minister said.

"When Perth last hosted ATE in 2008, the event injected about $10million into the economy and generated more than 100 media stories about WA. This year's event is expected to provide a similar boost."

Dr Hames thanked WA's tourism industry for supporting ATE by providing free or discounted hotel rooms, transport for delegates or by participating in the familiarisation program.

Fact File

ATE 2012 runs from June 15-21

ATE is managed by Tourism Australia and ATE 2012 is hosted by Tourism WA with Qantas as the major airline partner

For more information:  www.tourism.wa.gov.au/Australian_Tourism_Exchange_ATE_2012

Media contact: 
Peta Rule
6552 5300 or 0428 923 661