Tourism

Breaking the shacklesBroome businesses ‘now one step closer to certainty’

The Broome Chamber of Commerce and Industry says it’s time to gear up for visitors after the State Government revealed it has taken the first step to allowing travel to the Kimberley to resume.

Jakeb Waddell

ExclusiveNorthern borders could be unlocked in time for WA Day

Premier Mark McGowan is poised to deliver an announcement within days that will allow travel to key tourism spots like Esperance, Karratha, Exmouth and Geraldton before the June holiday.

Joe Spagnolo

Travel bans liftedThousands head down south as restrictions ease

They were meant to be at Coachella, but these friends are among thousands making their way to the State’s South West this weekend as regional travel restrictions are eased.

Caitlyn Rintoul and Warren Hately

The West LiveZero out of 10: Mayor’s whack for McGowan

A border stoush has brewed across WA with one regional mayor left “peeved” and “frustrated” that other cities and towns are open to much-needed tourist trade from the city.

Caitlyn Rintoul

The West LiveSouth West expects influx of city tourists

On The West Live Jenna Clarke will be asking Busselton Mayor Grant Henley if the southern city is ready for an influx of tourists. LISTEN LIVE AT 8.45am

Caitlyn Rintoul

Coronavirus fightbackHow a ‘staggered’ border reopening could work for WA

WA’s peak tourism body says the State Government cannot take an ‘all or nothing approach’ to the interstate border as it called for a ‘staggered’ reopening of travel to the east.

Josh Zimmerman

If I were PremierLiza Harvey says ‘it’s time to open up State’s border’

The Opposition leader has revealed how she’d tackle the State’s current situation juggling the COVID pandemic, saying she’d tear down WA’s interstate border and reopen travel to the east immediately.

Josh Zimmerman & Peter de Kruijff

EXCLUSIVEGyms, beauty salons and borders ‘open within weeks’

WA Premier Mark McGowan has signalled a further lift in COVID-19 restrictions could come in just three weeks, flagging June 8 as the date for more border relaxations and business re-openings.

Joe Spagnolo

MatesongMinogue paid $1m for 10-day tourism ad campaign

Aussie pop icon Kylie Minogue was paid nearly $1 million dollars to star in the Matesong tourism ad which was taken off air after just 10 days.

ExclusiveWyatt to WA: Open the Kimberley to save tourism

Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt has called for the re-opening of the Kimberley as soon as possible, saying all the WA Government has to do is ask if it wants restrictions eased.

Lanai Scarr and Peter De Kruijff

Records shatteredVirus lockdown sends WA arrivals into freefall

The record follows successive steep falls earlier this year as the true scale of the COVID-19 pandemic began to emerge.

Josh Zimmerman

Coronavirus crisisMandurah ‘open for socially distant business’

Mandurah businesses are in line to save an average of more than $500 on their rate bills this year as the local council mulls over COVID-19 recovery measures.

Peter de Kruijff

The recovery roadmapOur freedoms will be the envy of the world

From next week West Australians will be able to go out for a meal, head to the office, and even book a holiday — freedoms almost nobody else on the planet has amid coronavirus lockdowns.

Peter Law and Peter de Kruijff

The great dividing rageSW open to Perth tourists but north fears for survival

Southern tourism operators are rejoicing with access to the Perth holidaymaker market from next week — but northern businesses are questioning whether they will even be able to survive.

Peter de Kruijff, Caitlyn Rintoul and Jakeb Waddell

Broome bombsRegions face collapse as tourism dollars stripped

Tourism-dependant towns in WA’s North West such as Broome may not survive economically unless visitors are allowed back before October.

Peter de Kruijff and Jakeb Waddell

Tourism rebootRegional travel ban likely relaxed by school holidays

Regional travel bans could be loosened in time for the winter school holidays, paving the way for a reboot of WA’s tourism sector. But the Premier rebuffed calls for interstate travel to resume.

Peter Law

The West LiveRegional towns ‘will die’ without help: Tourism boss

West Aussies are being urged to resist the lure of cheap interstate flights and instead holiday at home when borders reopen amid w that regional towns will die without support from Perth travellers.

Danielle Le Messurier

Coronavirus crisis‘V-shaped’ recovery for Perth economy: report

Perth has taken a $2 billion hit to its economy in the past financial year because of COVID-19 but is one of the best positioned capital cities to rebound, according to analysts.

Peter de Kruijff

ExclusiveAFL hub would bring $10.3 million boost to Perth

The push for a Perth hub comes after 72,000 WA jobs were lost in the three weeks after restrictions were placed on bars, restaurants, cafes and entertainment venues to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Peter Law, Steve Butler & Josh Zimmerman

ExclusiveWhy Perth-based AFL hub would be ‘world-class’

WA’s footy and business leaders have laid out their case for Perth becoming home to an AFL hub as momentum gathers for Western Australia to play a key role in the 2020 season’s restart.

Peter Law and Tim Clarke

ExclusiveHoliday hell: WA tourism industry’s $3.1 billion hit

After regional travel restrictions were imposed in WA this month to slow the spread of COVID-19, the State’s tourism operators instantly saw six months’ worth of bookings cancelled.

Peter Law

TourismCrown stands down 11,500 casino staff

Crown Resorts has stood down 95 per cent of its workforce - more than 11,500 staff - after coronavirus restrictions affected its casinos in Melbourne and Perth.

Derek Rose

Inside CoverWhat you can do to help WA’s COVID-19 recovery

With State and national borders closed for the foreseeable future, it’s no secret WA’s tourism industry has been absolutely smashed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s how you can help.

Ben O'SheaInside Cover Editor

COVID-19 riseCoronavirus-hit Indonesia to ban incoming tourists

Indonesia’s government has announced it will ban foreign nationals from entering the Asian country as it grapples with a rise in confirmed cases and detection of community transmission.

Caitlyn Rintoul