Slump in visitors to Rottnest

Rottnest Island authorities have commissioned urgent research into the dramatic decline in winter visitors and summer applicants.

Visitor numbers for July, August, September and October were 15 per cent down on last year, while the number of applications for accommodation over summer dropped 17 per cent.

Rottnest Island Authority chairman Laurie O'Meara has described the data as "a worrying trend".

Past and present visitors would be interviewed as part of the research.

Mr O'Meara said the decline could affect the authority's bottom line and impact on its operations.

"After the global financial crisis in 2009, our numbers picked up last year and we thought we were on the right track," he said. "But the numbers have turned around very suddenly. It is a worrying trend.

"We felt we could not allow it to continue without trying to identify the cause."

The data shows 8785 visitors in July (compared with 10,484 in 2010 and 12,625 in 2009), 9943 in August (10,450 in 2010 and 10,455 in 2009), 16,001 in September (21,202 in 2010 and 16,039 in 2009) and 26,497 in October (29,620 in 2010 - 28,742 in 2009).

Mr O'Meara said the decline over winter might have been because of more rainy days than previous years that dissuaded day trippers from going to the island.

The strong Australian dollar and the perception that Rottnest did not offer value for money might also be reasons, but they would not explain the sudden drop in numbers.

Ballots are conducted by the RIA for accommodation during the Christmas week and the January and April school holidays - about seven weeks in all.

This year, there were 3356 applications for 1310 allocations - a 17 per cent fall on 2010.

Shadow tourism minister Michelle Roberts said families were already struggling with massively increased household charges.

These stresses, coupled with significant increases in Rottnest fees and charges, meant families were finding it more difficult to take holidays, she said.