Perth Convention Bureau (PCB) has secured 88 new business events worth an estimated US$55 million to the Western Australian economy.

The events consist of national and international conferences, corporate meetings and incentive groups, and are expected to attract an estimated 35,500 delegates to Western Australia over the next four years.

Bureau managing director Christine McLean, said: “This result demonstrates the resilience of the business events sector and why the State Government has committed increased funding to attract high yield visitors.

“In the short term, the global economic crisis is impacting our business with reduced delegate numbers at conferences and fewer corporate reward programs being booked, but the long term prospects for the business events sector look extremely buoyant.

“In spite of all the global communication options available these days, people still prefer to meet face to face.”

Among the events are the Royal Australian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Conference in May 2010 (2,800 delegates); the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Annual Scientific Meeting in May 2012 (2,000 delegates); National Alcoholics Anonymous Convention in April 2011 (1,550 delegates); and the 11th National Rural Health Conference in March 2011 (1,200 delegates).