RAC closes all WA accommodation

By Jordan Murray

26/03/2020 - 13:48

News Tourism Free to read COVID-19

RAC is the latest business to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, announcing it will temporarily close all nine of its parks and resorts throughout Western Australia until May.

RAC's resort in Esperance is among the nine resorts affected by today's closures. Photo: Attila Csaszar

Royal Automobile Club of WA is the latest business to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, announcing it will temporarily close all nine of its parks and resorts throughout Western Australia until May.

Executive general manager for tourism Tony Pickworth said that in closing all of its accommodation in WA, RAC was committed to the health and safety of its guests and staff.

“Like all tourism operators across WA and Australia, we’ve been closely monitoring and responding to the latest health advice surrounding COVID-19,” Mr Pickworth said.

“The latest direction from the government and health authorities is that all non-essential travel should not proceed, and so we have made the decision to temporarily close our nine destinations to all people other than those in extenuating circumstances.

“We regret any inconvenience and disruption this will cause, but our absolute highest priority is the health and safety of our guests, our people, our members, and the wider Western Australian community.”

While RAC's resorts at Cable Beach, Cervantes, Busselton, Margaret River and Esperance will remain open for essential travellers and those with extenuating circumstances, resorts at Exmouth Cape, Ningaloo Reef, Monkey Mia and Karri Valley will be closed to all visitors.

Nationals MP Vince Catania told Business News yesterday that the state government needed to actively stop people from visiting rural locations like Exmouth, saying regional healthcare would not be able to cope with a COVID-19 outbreak.

“Exmouth has a small hospital,” Mr Catania said.

“We don’t have the ventilators needed for even one case because the hospital would be shut down.

“That’s why you have to put measures in place to stop people from travelling, close the roads and allow essential travel only, non-essential travel needs to stop.”

RAC is just one of many operators across WA who have suffered as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic, with Discovery Parks, Prendiville Group and Crown Hotels among affected operators.