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Long weekend beckons tourists back to region and excites local short-stay accommodation providers

Phoebe PinKalgoorlie Miner
Gold Miner Caravan Park manager Tania White.
Camera IconGold Miner Caravan Park manager Tania White. Credit: Kalgoorlie Miner, Tori O'Connor

West Australians are being encouraged to explore the State this long weekend, with Kalgoorlie-Boulder short-stay accommodation providers eager to welcome tourists back.

WA Premier Mark McGowan on Monday announced unrestricted regional travel within the State — excluding travel to the Kimberley region, the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku and parts of the East Pilbara — could resume from Friday.

The news was welcomed by staff at Kalgoorlie-Boulder caravan parks, backpackers, hotels and motels, which have been hit hard by COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Gold Miner Caravan Park manager Tania White said her popular business had never been quieter.

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“We have long-term tenants stay here but we’ve had no tourists for ages,” she said. “Many people cancelled their bookings and their travel plans.

“They were so excited to travel and disappointed to have to cancel, but I think they will be even more excited to travel now they can.”

While it may be some time until Kalgoorlie-Boulder can welcome international tourists, Ms White said she looked forward to helping West Australians experi-ence the best of the Goldfields.

“It will be so nice to see different faces again,” she said.

“All the stories they tell when they travel around — it is so interesting to listen to them, and I really miss that.”

Ms White said the caravan park was preparing for a surge in bookings over the upcoming long weekend, and she was ensuring staff were up to date with the latest cleaning and social distancing requirements to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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