Discounted flights on offer to help tourism operators smashed by flood

The WA government has negotiated with Virgin Australia to offer discounted airfares, aimed at getting tourists back into the state’s flood-ravaged areas.

The West Australian government has announced a $6m package to help tourism in the state’s flood-ravaged Kimberley region, including 19,000 discounted flights.

Recovery efforts are still ongoing weeks after heavy rainfall from ex-tropical cyclone Ellie caused the Fitzroy River to reach record heights, inundating homes and businesses with flood waters, and destroying parts of vital transport infrastructure.

It’s expected the knock-on effects will harm a number of industries, tourism among them.

Travel through the Kimberley still remains somewhat difficult as road repairs are slowly carried out.

Announcing the Tourism Flood Recovery Package on Friday, Tourism Minister Roger Cook said popular tourism hot spots such as Broome, Derby and Kununurra are ready-and-waiting to welcome visitors for the upcoming tourist season.

“I urge all travellers with holidays planned for the Kimberley to keep their bookings or postpone until the time is right, rather than cancel,” Mr Cook said.

“And I implore everyone to add a trip to the Kimberley to their travel plans for 2023.”

The package includes discounted flights, voucher incentives and a national marketing campaign.

About 19,000 flights will be on offer from Virgin Australia after negotiations with the state government.

Tourists can book flights from Perth to Broome from $219 one-way, and Perth to Kununurra from $259 one-way, for travel from 27 March to 29 October this year.

Some flood plains stretched across 50km at their widest points, but it’s hoped waters will have receded by the time tourists return to the region.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive of the Wheatbelt Development Commission Rob Cossart has been named State Recovery Coordinator to assist the Kimberley community get back on their feet.

A Kimberley Recovery Coordinator will be also appointed to work alongside Mr Cossart to help organise community and industry engagement.

“Rob Cossart has extensive experience in the Kimberley and is respected as an outstanding community leader, which makes him the ideal choice to lead this significant recovery effort,” WA Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said.

Meanwhile, Main Roads WA crews remain in the Kimberley, repairing damaged stretches of the Great Northern Highway, as well as damaged bridges at Fitzroy Crossing and Willare.

They’re still waiting for heavy machinery to be able to get into areas where the damage is substantial, as flood waters continue receding slowly.

The Lord Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund appeal for the Kimberley Floods, established in the wake of the disaster by the City of Perth, has exceeded $11m in donations as of Friday afternoon.

My sincere thanks to Santos Australia for a pledge of $100,000 and BP Australia for their $72,000 contribution to the Lord Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund for Kimberley Floods. Together the West Australian community has raised more than $11 million. Thank you https://t.co/0zQGdyf2TEpic.twitter.com/9qWeWlIF0B

— Basil Zempilas (@BasilZempilas) January 20, 2023

The fund was boosted by $3m donation from the state government.