Gourmet Escape to attract Asian tourists

The McGowan government wants to sell WA as a “premium culinary tourism destination” with its expanded Gourmet Escape event this year.

The event, which has attracted the likes of celebrity chef Nigella Lawson and which this year will feature culinary stars David Chang and Marco Pierre White, will be held in the Swan Valley and Perth City as well as Margaret River for the first time.

Tourism Minister Paul Papalia said the series of events held across the three locations from November 8 to 17 would represent serious improvement and growth in WA’s culinary tourism product.

“We are going to sell ourselves as the pre-eminent culinary tourism event in Australia,” he said.

“We’re obviously the Western gateway so that gives us opportunity to market to Asia and we’re selling to the east coast.

“WA is getting more interstate tourists now than ever before and this event will allow us to grow that further, and we’ve got the fastest growing international holiday market in the country.

“It’s going to be huge, West Australians can get on board but we are selling it to the world and the eastern states as a reason to come to WA.”

Mr Papalia was confident the Swan Valley and Perth events would not dampen the success of the Margaret River branch of the Escape.

“The Swan Valley event has an earthy, family friendly position which is different from the Margaret River event,” he said.

“That one is traditional, more high-end, attractive – nothing’s changed about the quality of that event, in fact there are new elements to that product as well, so the Margaret River event will be just as attractive.”

Almost 60 events are planned as part of the Escape this year, including the Gourmet Feast in the Valley at Sandalford Wines, and a Wine and Sign with Marco Pierre White event on November 9-10.

The Fraser Gallop Estate Friday Long Lunch will be back in Margaret River on November 15, with matched wines and food from Vue de Monde executive chef, Hugh Allen.