 The number of heterosexual men diagnosed in that period rose from 16 out of 30, to 50 out of 70. The statistics vary radically from those in other states.
In other states, homosexuals still make up more than 75 per cent of new diagnoses.
Anecdotal evidence gathered by the council points to WA's buoyant economy, its close proximity to Asia and the frequency of executives travelling overseas for business.
So concerned is the council and the Health Department that they have commissioned research into the sexual behaviour of men travelling overseas and will use the results for an HIV awareness campaign.
There is a Safe Sex No Regrets TV advertising campaign warning young people not to have unprotected sex, particularly focused at chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV.
But it is older men travelling on business and younger, unsophisticated males on leisure trips who are providing most worries for the council.
"There are different segments of people,'' Trish Langdon, the council's executive director, said.
"Some are the `yahoo'-type characters who do a lot of drinking. Others in the group, who are probably more vulnerable, are the middle-aged guys who are overseas for work or perhaps a bit of leisure.
"They don't realise that the nice young girl who is chatting to them in the bar could be posing a risk.
"Some of these guys would not even be packing their own bags so wouldn't be thinking about condoms.''
The WA AIDS Council has also set up a website with this group in mind at www.sexinothercities.com.au that gives advice on how to protect yourself overseas.
Also of concern was that many people didn't realise that if they had an untreated sexual disease they were more at risk of acquiring HIV.
"We advise them to have a full sexual check before they go and make sure they don't have untreated diseases,'' Ms Langdon said.
"That means if they do have a bit of fun, they are less vulnerable to acquiring HIV.''
* For further information about traveling and staying safe also have a look at our Sex & Travel page on this site.
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