Visitor Centres WA Sessions

Exclusive to Visitor Centre representatives
Location: Carnarvon Civic Centre

A dedicated program for visitor centre delegates, featuring roundtable discussions on shared challenges and opportunities, practical sessions on data interpretation and advocacy, and a case study showcasing best practice in action. The day includes time to connect with peers from across the state and a presentation from the Carnarvon Visitor Centre.

Business Development Workshops

AI for Social Media Marketing

Location: Gwoonwardu Mia Cultural Centre

Marketing your business on social media is vital, but the time it takes often means it gets neglected. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot and Claude can help you work smarter, and this workshop will show you the best ways to incorporate this technology while maintaining your authentic voice.

Topics will include:

• understanding what generative AI and large language models can and can't do, including risks such as hallucination
• comparing the main AI tools available (ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini) and their strengths
• creating a business marketing profile to get better, more relevant results from AI
• using AI for strategy, planning and generating content ideas
• improving your drafts and creating posts and captions with AI assistance
• understanding the limitations and ethical considerations of AI-generated images and video
• resources for staying up to date as the technology evolves

Presented by Amanda Kendle

Future-Proof Your Business: What Every Tourism Operator Needs to Know in 2026

Location: Gwoonwardu Mia Cultural Centre

Running a tourism business means wearing many hats - and the financial one doesn't always get the attention it deserves. This interactive workshop, facilitated by RSM, gives you dedicated time to step back from the day-to-day and take a closer look at the financial foundations of your business.

With significant changes on the horizon - including Payday Super obligations from July 2026 - now is the time to ensure your systems, structures and strategies are ready. RSM's advisors will guide you through what's changing and what it means for your business, alongside practical strategies for cash flow management, tax planning, and choosing the right business structure for where you're headed.

This is also a chance to learn from the room. Hear how other operators are navigating the same challenges, ask the questions you don't always get to ask, and leave with a clearer picture of where the opportunities lie.

Suitable for owner-operators, business managers and finance decision-makers across all tourism sectors.

Presented by Simon Brown, RSM

Carnarvon's Heritage & Art Walking Tour - Time to be confirmed 

Location: Depart from the Caernarvon Civic Centre (Visitor Centre)

Explore Carnarvon’s stories through both heritage and creativity on this combined Heritage & Art Walking Tour. Guided by a local host, delegates will walk through the town’s historic precinct while discovering significant heritage buildings alongside vibrant public artworks and murals that reflect the region’s culture and community spirit. This relaxed tour offers insight into Carnarvon’s past while showcasing how art and placemaking are helping shape the town’s future.

Gwoonwardu Mia Tour with an Elder - 10am to 11am 

Location: Gwoonwardu Mia Cultural Centre

We welcome delegates to immerse themselves in Yinggarda culture led by a local Elder, this one-hour cultural experience offers the opportunity to learn about local culture, native plants and traditional knowledge connected to Country. Delegates will meet at Gwoonwardu Mia for a 10.00am start, with the tour running for approximately one hour. This experience is free for conference delegates and delivered in partnership with Gwoonwardu Mia and the Shire of Carnarvon.

Banana's about Carnarvon - Time to be confirmed 

Location: To be confirmed 

If there is one thing Carnarvon is known for, it’s our incredible fresh produce, especially our sweet, small bananas. Join us for Bananas About Carnarvon, a fun and flavour-filled experience celebrating one of the region’s most iconic products. This session will feature a cooking demonstration and masterclass showcasing the versatility of Carnarvon bananas, along with tastings including banana vodka and freeze-dried bananas for a sweet afternoon treat. We invite hospitality and tourism partners to join this session to explore how Carnarvon’s produce and experiences could become part of your tourism offering, while opening conversations about strengthening partnerships and creating new opportunities together.

Industry Showcase Tour - 10am to 2pm 

Location: Depart from the Carnarvon Civic Centre (Visitor Centre)

Discover the future of Carnarvon on this Industry Showcase Tour, designed for delegates interested in the region’s major project developments, growing industries and emerging investment opportunities. This tour will provide insights into the initiatives shaping Carnarvon’s economic future, highlighting key projects, local innovation and the industries driving growth across the region. Delegates will have the opportunity to learn more about the opportunities and partnerships that are positioning Carnarvon as an exciting place to live, work and invest.

5.00pm – 7.00pm

(coaches departing Carnarvon from 4.00pm)

Networking Function

Included for all delegates

Join us for an unforgettable evening presented by the Gascoyne Development Commission at the iconic Quobba Station, just 45 minutes north of Carnarvon.​ Set against the stunning backdrop of the Gascoyne coastline where the desert meets the sea, this event will showcase the region’s rich culture, world-class produce, and breathtaking landscapes. ​

As the sun sets over the Indian Ocean, immerse yourself in the Gascoyne’s unique offerings. ​ Savor exquisite canapés crafted by renowned chefs, featuring fresh seafood, premium meats, locally grown vegetables, and Indigenous bush foods. ​ Pair these culinary delights with regional beverages for a true taste of the Gascoyne. ​

Enjoy captivating Aboriginal cultural performances, including dance and music, and connect with the people and stories that define this remarkable region. ​ As twilight falls, marvel at the Gascoyne’s world-class night skies through telescopes provided by local astrotourism operators. ​

This event is the perfect opportunity to network with industry leaders, government representatives, and tourism operators while experiencing the authentic charm of the Gascoyne. ​ Don’t miss this chance to celebrate Western Australia’s vibrant tourism industry and discover the beauty and abundance of the Gascoyne region. ​

Conference Sessions

Location: Carnarvon Civic Centre

Sessions include:

Keynote Presentation: AI – The Future is Now – Steve Sammartino

Futurist and business strategist Steve Sammartino explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping the tourism landscape – not in some distant future, but right now. This keynote cuts through the hype to show what AI means for operators today and how to harness it before you're left behind.

Stop Scrolling, Start Booking: Social Media That Converts – Meg Coffey, Coffey & Tea

Social media is crowded, algorithms are constantly shifting, and most tourism operators don't have time to keep up. This session cuts through the noise with practical, immediately actionable strategies for turning your social media presence into actual bookings. Learn what the platforms are rewarding right now, where to focus your limited time, and how to create content that works – even on a tight budget.

Tourism Minister’s Address – Hon Reece Whitby MLA, Minister for Tourism

The Minister for Tourism opens the conference with an update on the state government's priorities for the visitor economy and key initiatives shaping WA tourism.

Host Town Address – Speaker to be announced, Shire of Carnarvon

As the proud host town of the 2026 WA Tourism Conference, the Shire of Carnarvon will present a special address celebrating the region, its people, and the unique experiences that make Carnarvon and the Gascoyne such a remarkable destination. This session will offer insight into the region’s rich heritage, vibrant community, and exciting future within Western Australia’s tourism landscape.

More details will be announced soon.

Regional Trends Shaping the Visitor Experience – Panel Session

From marine encounters and outback station stays to astrotourism, drive tourism, and agritourism — regional WA is seeing a shift in what visitors are seeking and how they experience a destination. This panel brings together operators working across some of tourism's fastest-growing segments to explore what's driving demand, how regional operators are innovating, and where the next opportunities lie. Whether you operate on the coast, in the outback, or anywhere in between, this session offers practical insights you can apply to your own region and business.

Tourism Australia Update – Rob Dougan, Tourism Australia

An overview of Tourism Australia's current marketing activity, campaign priorities, and insights on visitor trends and source markets relevant to Western Australian operators.

Tourism Western Australia Update

An overview of Tourism WA's current priorities, marketing activity, and initiatives supporting the visitor economy across the state.

Cleared for Takeoff: The Future of Regional Air Access – Panel Session

Air access is one of the biggest factors shaping regional tourism growth — and one of the biggest challenges. This panel brings together airlines, airport operators, and tourism stakeholders for an honest conversation about the barriers to growing and retaining regional air routes, and what it will take to overcome them. From route viability and seasonal demand to infrastructure and collaboration, hear how industry and government can work together to improve connectivity and unlock the potential of regional Western Australia. A must-attend for anyone whose business depends on getting visitors to and from the regions.

Lunch & Learn - Tax Time Ready: Top Tips for Tourism Businesses

With tax time on the horizon, now is the perfect time to get your financial house in order. In this practical session, RSM's tourism industry specialists share their top tips to help tourism businesses prepare with confidence - from record-keeping essentials and common deductions to cash flow considerations and what to have ready before you meet with your accountant. Walk away with actionable steps you can implement straight away.

Conference Dinner

Join us for the highlight of the conference social calendar at a secret location (we're keeping this one under wraps). The evening features the presentation of the 7NEWS Top Tourism Town Awards and the Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards for Individual Excellence, celebrating the people and places driving tourism across Western Australia.

Conference Sessions

Location: Carnarvon Civic Centre

Sessions include:

Practical Steps to Building Partnerships between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Tourism Businesses

Many tourism operators want to incorporate Aboriginal culture into their guest experience but don't know where to start. How do you identify the right people to talk to? What does a respectful approach look like? How do you structure a partnership that works for everyone?

This practical session moves beyond the "why" to focus on the "how" – outlining key steps for building genuine partnerships with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal tourism businesses. Two WA case studies bring these principles to life, with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal partners sharing their experiences: the challenges they faced, what they learned, and the outcomes they've achieved together.

Protect, Preserve, Present: Tourism’s Role in Interpreting World Heritage Values at Shark Bay

Shark Bay is one of only a handful of places on Earth recognised for all four natural criteria of Outstanding Universal Value under the World Heritage Convention. Its seagrass meadows, stromatolites, marine life, and deep cultural connections make it a living laboratory of evolution and resilience.

This session offers a local perspective on what it means to manage and present a World Heritage property on the frontline of environmental change – and the unique role tourism operators play as interpreters of these values. By the stories they tell and the experiences they shape, operators help visitors connect with what makes places like Shark Bay extraordinary while inspiring stewardship for generations to come.

Closing Keynote – Josh Richards

Physicist, Commando, Explosives Engineer, Comedian, Astronaut Candidate, Exploration Cave Diver – one thing Josh Richards can never be accused of is being boring.

After a decade of picking up booby traps with the Australian Army, slogging through mud with British Commandos, being science adviser to the richest artist in the world, and performing comedy wearing a giant koala suit to confused audiences around the world, Josh decided to take on the final frontier by applying for a one-way mission to Mars. Selected from over 200,000 initial applicants to the Mars One project in 2012, Josh was shortlisted as one of 100 astronaut candidates launching to the red planet one-way in 2031. For the next decade, Josh travelled the world - training, preparing, speaking, and writing books with the single goal of helping our species evolve in order to establish a permanent Human presence on Mars.

Carnarvon Uncovered

Included for all delegates

Additional information will be announced soon as we continue to finalise the program.

Conference Closing Party - Jetty to the Stars with the Perth Symphony Orchestra 

Included for all delegates
Location: One Mile Jetty Precinct

Additional information will be announced soon as we continue to finalise the program.

Charter Flight Departs Carnarvon, 
Delegates travelling on the exclusive charter flight will be transported to the airport for the flight to depart at 6.00pm, arriving back in Perth approximately 7.45pm.