Alcohol restrictions in WA tourism hotspots like the Kimberley have not hurt visitor numbers and may have significantly boosted them.

An analysis of WA Government data from tourism precincts affected by various alcohol restrictions in communities between 1999 and 2019 found visitor numbers increased after restrictions were introduced, despite fears the bans could hurt the local economy.

The research, led by Curtin University’s National Drug Research Institute and published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health on Wednesday, is the first of its kind.

Senior author Tanya Chikritzhs said the research challenged the popular perception that alcohol regulation damages tourism.

She said it made sense that tourism increased after alcohol restrictions were brought in becaus

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