{"id":281773,"date":"2025-10-06T13:25:22","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T13:25:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/281773\/"},"modified":"2025-10-06T13:25:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T13:25:22","slug":"perth-royal-show-attendance-slumps-to-10-year-low","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/281773\/","title":{"rendered":"Perth Royal Show attendance slumps to 10-year low"},"content":{"rendered":"

Attendance at this year’s Perth Royal Show has hit a 10-year low, as organisers blame “heavy downpours” amid complaints from vendors about a lack of support.<\/p>\n

The show, which ran for eight days, finished on Saturday, with organisers confirming about 300,000 people walked through the gates.<\/p>\n

That’s a stark contrast to last year when free tickets for children, and half-price tickets for adults, subsidised by the government saw 438,600 tickets sold, the highest attendance since 2013.<\/p>\n

Vendors this year say they were shocked by the low numbers, blaming the scant crowds on the cost of entry.<\/p>\n

Vendors concerned by low crowds, price crunch at Perth Royal Show<\/a><\/p>\n

Vendors are reporting smaller attendances at this year’s Perth Royal Show amid a sharp increase in prices, both for visitors and game providers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But Robyn Sermon, the CEO of the show’s organiser the Royal Agricultural Society of WA (RASWA), said she was not expecting huge crowds this year in the first place.<\/p>\n

“We anticipated a lower attendance this year following last year’s record-breaking ‘kids free’ show,” Ms Sermon said.<\/p>\n

“The 2025 numbers are in line with our 10-year average.”<\/p>\n

“This year’s attendance also reflects the impact of rain on two of the eight days \u2014 including heavy downpours on the final day, which is traditionally one of our busiest.”<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Crowds at Perth Royal Show 2025. (ABC News: Kenith Png)<\/p>\n

Aside from the COVID-19 years, the 2025 attendance rate is one of the lowest since 2016, when 311,000 people walked through the door.<\/p>\n

At that time, the low attendance was also blamed on wet weather, and sparked debate about moving the show to warmer months.<\/a><\/p>\n

Much like this year, the 2016 Perth Royal Show was also the first event after government subsidies admitting children for free ended.<\/p>\n

This year, entry to the Royal Show for anyone over 16 was $50, while last year it was just $22 for adults and children were free.<\/p>\n

Despite the increase in prices, the show’s organisers said more than 90 per cent of surveyed patrons rated their experience positively.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘We will not go again’<\/p>\n

The ABC spoke to several vendors late last week, who said they were considering not returning next year, as the cost of operating ratchets up while business falls.<\/a><\/p>\n

Small goods vendor Lauraine Godwin said on Monday she believed the price jump played a part in the lower numbers.<\/p>\n

“I definitely do think the ticket pricing, and that inconsistency \u2026 if you’re going to have a price hike why does it have to be double?” she said.<\/p>\n

“That was just a massive leap.”<\/p>\n

Ms Godwin, who sells customised hair accessories for mothers and small children, said she was expecting much more foot traffic.<\/p>\n

\"Lauraine<\/p>\n

Lauraine Godwin says she would have rather put the money towards a social media marketing. (ABC News: Mya Kordic)<\/p>\n

“It’s affected our little start-up company in a very negative way,” Ms Godwin said.<\/p>\n

“We would have been better off spending that money on social media marketing rather than putting it into the show.”<\/p>\n

Ms Sermon said various factors contributed to whether vendors made a profit.<\/p>\n

“Those that have been coming for years said they [crowd numbers] were down less than they thought they would be,” she said.<\/p>\n

“It depends on your product, it depends on where you’re located, it depends on how you market and price.”<\/p>\n

‘Humble ask’ for kids discount<\/p>\n

In the lead up to the 2025 Perth Royal Show, the state government announced it would introduce a new public holiday to coincide with the show in future years.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

Numbers have been down at the Royal Show in 2025. (ABC News: Cason Ho\u00a0)<\/p>\n

But the Opposition’s spokesperson for Agriculture and Food, <\/strong>Lachlan Hunter, said the government should be offering long-term financial support to the show’s organisers.<\/p>\n

He said the free-entry for kids should be reinstated, which he said was a “humble ask” for a government flush with cash.<\/p>\n

A state government spokesperson said it had invested enough in the show to make it affordable for families.<\/p>\n

\"Sheep<\/p>\n

Agriculture is one of the main events of the show. (ABC News: Kenith Png)<\/p>\n

“Our government slashed ticket prices to half-price for children, students and concession card holders to help make the experience more affordable for WA families,” the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

“Our $2.8 million investment also assisted with the nightly fireworks and drone show and includes a new $660,000 grant program to support agricultural shows across WA.”<\/p>\n

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