There are fewer dollars involved but tourism is a bigger employer in Western Australia than mining, believe it or not.
The mining industry accounts for 80,000 jobs and tourism 89,000, making it "extraordinarily important for employment in our state", WA Labor leader Mark McGowan told a tourism industry breakfast.
Mr McGowan was making his election pitch to the industry 11 days out from an election he is favoured to win.
If elected premier, he committed to leading at least one international trade delegation annually to promote WA business and trade.
Premier Colin Barnett, who has previously committed to doubling the value of tourism by 2020, will also address Tourism WA on Thursday.
Mr McGowan said the industry's flaws included a lack of funding for marketing, a lack of a brand identity and poor international student numbers compared to the other states, especially Victoria where it was the biggest export earner.
The tourism industry has previously said the Liberal Party did not spend enough on destination marketing.
A McGowan government would invest $425 million over five years in tourism, providing funding certainty, he said, while trying to become a great global destination.
That would include destination marketing for business events, domestic tourism and international leisure and major events.
However a figure of only $2 million over five years to boost international student numbers was not enough, Study Perth executive director Mike Ryan said.
Despite its natural attractions, WA's isolation means it struggles to compete with the east coast for domestic and overseas visitors.
