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Tourism Council WA is calling for travellers to retain their bookings for the Kimberley region after reports of tourism operators receiving unnecessary cancellations due to extensive media coverage of the floods in the region.

Tourism Council WA Chief Executive, Evan Hall advised “Broome and Kununurra are both open for business and will be providing fantastic travel experiences for visitors throughout the upcoming peak season.”

Hall noted that the economic impact of natural disasters is often compounded by unnecessary travel cancellations, which occur even when the location and local businesses are unaffected and are eager to welcome visitors back to the region.

Hall added “air travel to Broome and Kununurra will remain unimpacted by the floods, allowing visitors to fly in and enjoy these great destinations.

“Long-distance tours may be affected by road access, and we encourage anyone with a multi-day tour booking to contact their tour operator to receive accurate information on road accessibility before unnecessarily cancelling.

“As recovery efforts in the Kimberley begin, it is important the local communities receive support. The floods have left the Kimberley under economic strain, and cancelling travel to the area only hinders recovery efforts.

“Tourism businesses need regular updates from the State Government so they can provide accurate information to guests regarding any impact of the floods on visitation in the Kimberley.

“Tourism businesses often take a double-hit from natural disasters - first from the immediate damage and impact of the floods, and then a second hit from unnecessary cancellations due to misinformation and misconceptions.

“The Kimberley is a seasonal destination, with the season starting in the Easter school holidays and peaking in June and July. This will be the fourth season in a row that tourism operators have faced disruptions due to COVID-19 and now unnecessary booking cancellations.”

Flood assistance available
Residents in the shires of Derby/West Kimberley, Broome, Wyndham-East Kimberley and Halls Creek can now access flood assistance.

The jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) provides emergency assistance, including covering temporary living expenses and housing repair costs.

The Lord Mayor of Perth’s Distress Relief Fund is also open to donations, with the funds raised to help those affected by the floods.

Click here for more information.

Image: Brooking channel and Fitzroy Bridge in flood 6th January 2023. Credit: Main Roads WA.

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