Interstate visitors will be able to fly directly to Western Australia’s South West region from mid-2018 with the announcement of a $60 million expansion of Busselton Airport.

The WA government will buy new land and the runway will be lengthened and widened to cater for interstate flights, along with an expansion of the car park.

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Regional Development Minister Terry Redman says the expansion will be a game changer for tourism in the region, providing new business opportunities.

“The South West is one of our premier tourism regions,” he said on Saturday.

“Direct flights from the east coast will take tourism in the South West to a new level.”

The airport is currently restricted to interstate routes and charter services.