Barnett talks up tourism from conference

WA Premier Colin Barnett has talked up an LNG conference with 5000 delegates attending as a major tourist drawcard, despite Perth being chosen as the host city more than five years ago.

A day after announcing he would again become tourism minister as part of a cabinet reshuffle, Mr Barnett touted the number of big-spending delegates the LNG 18 conference would attract to Perth.

He first announced the city would host the conference in November 2010.

On Wednesday, Mr Barnett rejected the suggestion he was trotting out old news, saying Perth was the only city to be chosen twice for the conference "and ironically, I was the minister back in '98" when it was first held in the WA capital.

"Delegations are now confirming their attendance, we now know the size of the event and it's two weeks away so I think now is the time to talk about it," he told reporters.

"While the world LNG and oil and gas sector know about it, the public of Western Australia probably don't so I think it's important that they know.

"Perth's going to be busy for that week, incredibly busy with some of the world's most powerful and influential business people and government officials from around the world."

Mr Barnett said he expected the conference would inject at least $45 million into the local economy, including the use of 2000-3000 hotel rooms.

Australian Hotels Association WA chief executive Bradley Woods said up to 5000 delegates from some 50 countries would attend the conference, with some travelling to regional WA.

"These are very good spenders ... they don't hold back," Mr Woods said.

Mr Barnett said the conference came at an auspicious time for the WA oil and gas sector - despite low prices - with the state's LNG output set to more than double within this decade.

"We will be equivalent to Qatar as the world's leading LNG producer," he said.

The event starts on April 11, when Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will attend the welcome reception.