A survey of local boaties has overwhelmingly endorsed the facilities and services provided on Rottnest Island.
The biennial Boating Visitor Survey of boat owners registered by the Rottnest Island Authority (RIA) revealed a 38 per cent increase in the number of visits by private boats since 2017 (from 198,712 to 273,389) to Western Australia's premier holiday island.
And 94 per cent of boating visitors indicated their visit met or exceeded their expectations.
Some of the key findings include:
- Of all RIA-registered boat owners, 98 per cent have visited Rottnest in the last year;
- Thomson Bay is the most popular site, while Narrow Neck has become less popular;
- The majority of boat owners (92 per cent) come ashore onto the Island;
- Around three out of four boat owners were satisfied with the ease of going ashore (72 per cent) and with the availability of fuel (71 per cent); and
- Approximately three out of four boat owners use a beach access (72 per cent) and public toilets (69 per cent).
Jetties was mentioned as an area that 11 per cent of respondents would like to see improved.
Some boaties indicated that they wanted improved access to hire moorings, and to the process of booking a mooring - areas RIA were working on at the time.
Since the survey - RIA has introduced a new booking system for Rottnest rental moorings to allow boaties to book and pay for one of the 101 rental moorings on the Island 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
As stated by Tourism Minister Paul Papalia:
"Upgrading and improving the Island's jetties will be a major focus in 2019-20, with the State Government's $16.2 million to be used to improve Rottnest's boating infrastructure over the next four years.
"Visitors who come to Rottnest by private boat are important to us and this survey helps us understand what can be done to make their visit more enjoyable.
"We are in the process of addressing several of the concerns raised, with the construction of the new Fuel Jetty being particularly important."
