Published on Thursday, 5 March 2026 at 10:43:30 AM
The City of Albany has received new economic insights highlighting the significant contribution of visitors and the strong spending power of family households in January 2026.
Visitor expenditure accounted for nearly 40 per cent of Albany’s local economy during the month, reinforcing the vital role tourism plays in the region’s prosperity.
In total, visitors spent $21.9 million on consumer staples, $20.5 million on discretionary items and $4.3 million on services and other categories.
The majority of this spending originated within Western Australia, with regional and rural WA contributing 54.2 per cent of total visitor expenditure and Greater Perth accounting for 35.2 per cent.
Interstate visitors represented just over 10 per cent of spending, led by Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.
Manager Economic Development and Commercial Services Kristen Brown said the results demonstrate Albany’s strong appeal to Western Australian travellers.
“These figures confirm that tourism remains a cornerstone of Albany’s economy,” Ms Brown said.
“Our reliance on the WA market provides stability, particularly during periods of global uncertainty, but it also presents a clear opportunity to gradually broaden our visitor base over time.”
The data also reveals that family households drive local economic activity with women aged 45 to 54 recording the highest monthly spending of any demographic group, contributing $13.4 million in January alone.
This cohort typically represents established family households managing mortgages, education costs and broader household expenses.
“You can see that family households are carrying a significant share of overall expenditure,” Ms Brown said.
“At the same time, it’s encouraging to see younger residents aged 18 to 24 recording the strongest growth in spending, signalling increasing economic participation and confidence.”
In contrast, residents aged 65 and over recorded modest nominal growth of just one per cent, reflecting more cautious spending patterns amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
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