WA Agritourism Association Calls for Stability as Global Fuel Crisis Hits Regional Travel
Busselton, WA – The Western Australia Agritourism Association (WAAA) has expressed deep concern over the escalating global fuel crisis and its cascading impact on the aviation sector and regional tourism.
As conflict-driven fuel price hikes force airlines to cut regional routes and suspend services, WA’s agritourism operators, who represent the backbone of the state’s rural economy, are facing a double-edged sword: rising operational costs on the farm and a decline in visitor confidence.
“The current global volatility is hitting the hip pocket of every Western Australian and threatening the accessibility of our regions,” said John Stanley, President of WAAA. “With airfares climbing and flight certainty plummeting, we are seeing a direct threat to the international and interstate itineraries that our members rely on as part of the broader WA experience.”
WAAA is calling for a balanced national and state response that protects regional connectivity and acknowledges the unique position of agritourism. Unlike traditional tourism, these are working farms; they are essential businesses that provide food security while offering world-class visitor experiences.
“We are asking the government to ensure that when visitors make the trip to Western Australia, the regional infrastructure and aviation links are there to support them. Agritourism is the ‘Emotional Truth’ of the WA holiday, if we lose the ability to get people to the farm gate, we lose the heart of our tourism industry.”
WAAA is advocating for:
- Aviation Safeguards: Urgent intervention to maintain regional flight schedules that connect international arrivals to our agricultural hubs.
- Operational Relief: Recognition of the increased fuel costs for primary producers who provide tourism experiences, ensuring they aren’t priced out of existence.
- Strategic Value: A shift in state marketing to highlight the “quality over quantity” of regional visits, focusing on the high-value impact of agritourism.
“Our members are resilient, but they cannot subsidise a global energy crisis. We need leadership that keeps regional WA within reach.”
