City of Karratha tourism strategy approved as accommodation shortage and airfare concerns dominate feedback

The City of Karratha has unanimously endorsed an ambitious 10-year Economic Development and Tourism Strategy, but its most significant tourism goals cannot be delivered without funding that has not yet been approved. The City currently has no dedicated internal tourism development resource beyond the day-to-day operation of the Karratha Tourism and Visitor Centre. A new full-time role — expected to cost between $126,000 and $152,000 annually — has been identified as essential to delivering the strategy’s tourism pillars. Without it, those pillars will not be delivered. That position remains unfunded and will be considered through the city’s 2026-27 budget process. The strategy was shaped by in-depth interviews with about 70 stakeholders including local businesses, tourism operators and Aboriginal organisations, and a public consultation period that drew 18 formal submissions. It sets out a framework to diversify Karratha’s economy beyond the resources sector, with tourism identified as the key driver of that diversification. Community feedback during consultation was pointed. Accommodation shortage was the most frequently raised concern, drawing 10 specific mentions, with stakeholders calling for more caravan park supply, affordable options and improved mid-range stays. A lack of bookable tourism experiences, high airfares, infrastructure gaps and fragmented destination messaging were also consistently raised as barriers — despite the region boasting the newly World Heritage-listed Murujuga and the progressively sealing Red Dog Manuwara Highway. Councillor Geoff Harris, who moved the motion, said the strategy’s accountability framework was its greatest strength. “This is a great piece of work; it’s got deliverables in there,” Cr Harris said. “I’ll be keeping track along the way to see when we can tick off these deliverables that are in the plan.” Councillor Daiva Gillam seconded and acknowledged the community’s feedback. “I completely agree with the feedback we received from the community, particularly around the shortage of tourism accommodation and limited visitor experiences,” Cr Gillam said. “I look forward to seeing the implementation of this strategy and making some tangible improvements to the situation we have at the moment.” A decision on funding the tourism development role will be made through the city’s 2026-27 budget process.