00:01A sign of trouble for the tourism industry. Kakadu National Park's drawcard sites closed
00:08in the peak anti-tourist season.
00:11Everybody knows that having sites closed does cause reputational damage. We do hear
00:17the rhetoric around Kakadu not being open.
00:20Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls closed for all of this year and other spots still blocked
00:26off.
00:26Commonwealth Agency Parks Australia blaming damage from the last destructive wet season
00:33as the reason.
00:34Without a doubt we had a massive wet season in Kakadu and there was damage. However, there
00:40was a plan to have partial road openings and therefore we would have still had access.
00:47And so for that not to have come to fruition made it a very difficult season.
00:53Interstate travellers left with less options on the table.
00:57You don't fly from one side of Australia to the other to have closures at things that you
01:04want to go and see.
01:05The Territories Tourism Minister issuing a stern warning to the parks management.
01:10It's not good enough. Parks Australia are running out of excuses. Territorians are running
01:16out of patience. Operators are running out of time. The answer is simple. Open more of Kakadu
01:23and keep it open longer.
01:25Parks Australia has responded to the outcry by slashing park entry fees and waiving tourism operator
01:32fees for the season. Those in the sector say it's welcome, but not enough for the long term.
01:38It's about operators knowing that they want it in Kakadu.
01:42Despite the drawcard closures, an Albanese government spokesperson says 43 other sites are
01:48currently open, with another 14 being prepared to welcome tourists later this season.
01:57Do you want to go to promulgence on the smartphone?
01:58Do you want to go to the house?
02:01You
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