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2025–26 was a year of transformation, achievement and opportunity for the newly established Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport (CITS).

Bringing together tourism, creative industries, sport and recreation, and multicultural interests into a single department reflects a shared commitment to delivering greater impact for Western Australians through stronger alignment, collaboration and innovation. 

The creation of CITS reflects the growing importance of the sectors we support in shaping Western Australia's future. Whether attracting visitors and investment, fostering creativity and cultural expression, encouraging participation in sport and recreation, or strengthening social cohesion, our work touches every community across the State. Bringing these portfolios together has created a stronger platform to deliver lasting economic, social and cultural outcomes. 

It is a great privilege to lead this department, and over the past year, to travel throughout our beautiful State and meet many stakeholders and partners whose contributions shape the lives of Western Australians every day.

In our first year, our agency's impact was evident across the State. 

Western Australia generated $19.2 billion in visitor spend and welcomed a record 1.1 million international visitors, reinforcing the State's position as a leading tourism destination

Across our broader portfolios, we invested $90 million in creative industries, arts and culture, connected more than 12,000 students with creative learning opportunities and supported 29,642 children and young people to participate in community sport through KidSport. Together, these outcomes demonstrate the significant contribution our sectors make to economic prosperity, community wellbeing and opportunity for Western Australians.

A significant milestone was the launch of our inaugural Strategic Plan 2026–2029, establishing a clear vision for Western Australia as an extraordinary place to live, work, play, create and explore – where imagination shapes our future. The plan provides a strong foundation for growth and positions CITS to deliver exceptional experiences and services that enhance liveability, strengthen communities and drive economic opportunity.

Throughout the year, we built momentum through collaboration. By bringing together government, industry, local government, community organisations, sporting bodies, tourism operators, cultural institutions and culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities, we unlocked new opportunities and achieved outcomes that would not have been possible working alone.

The strength of this approach  was demonstrated when Western Australia successfully hosted matches for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026. The event reflected the collective contribution of our portfolios, combining world-class sport, destination promotion, cultural engagement and community participation to deliver benefits that extend well beyond the football field. It presented an opportunity to attract visitors, showcase Western Australia to a global audience, celebrate the diversity of our communities and inspire greater participation in sport, particularly among women and girls. 

Western Australia has moved beyond recovery phase, being the first state to mark a return to pre-pandemic tourism numbers. We opened the world-class Perth Film Studios, advanced transformative projects including the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Perth Concert Hall redevelopment, expanded opportunities for women and girls in sport, strengthened pathways for young people and athletes, and fostered greater inclusion and social cohesion across our diverse communities. 

These achievements belong to the many people and organisations who contribute to the success of our State. I thank our staff across metropolitan and regional WA, our international teams, portfolio agencies, industry partners, stakeholders and community organisations for their professionalism, expertise and commitment throughout a year of significant change and achievement. I also acknowledge our Ministers for their leadership, support and confidence as we established  CITS and delivered on an ambitious agenda.