Events return to Mandurah's calendar as restrictions continue to ease

With the coronavirus pandemic bringing about unprecedented restrictions, it was difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

But now planning is well and truly underway to bring national events back to the Peel region.

Events like the Mandurah Pro, which will see some of the nation's best surfers competing on our local breaks.

Or like the Confluence Festival of Indian Arts, which will see the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre turned into a cultural hub.

Both of these events were among six local projects that received a shot in the arm with the state government providing $1 million worth of funding to support a bounce-back in local tourism.

Joining them in receiving government support were the 2020 National Junior Table Tennis Championships, the King of the Cut stand-up paddle race, Pinjarra Festival and the Dwellingup 100 Mountain Bike Classic.

The funding follows the lifting of regional travel restrictions around Western Australia, and tourism minister Paul Papalia expects events like these to be a key part of the state's recovery plan.

"Regional tourism has been hit hard by COVID-19 - but we now have the opportunity to capitalise on a local tourism boom with thousands of Western Australians set to holiday at home this year," he said.

"Ordinarily Western Australians make about two million interstate and international holiday trips a year, and we expect many of those travellers will instead explore their backyard instead this year."

The table tennis championships are set to be the first of the six events to hit town, with players to descend on the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre in early July.