As businesses in the Kimberley continue to weather the busts and booms of the coronavirus pandemic, they want to know what candidates in the upcoming state election can offer for the future.

Kununurra Visitors Centre chairperson and general manager of visitor accommodation and tour company Ebony Muirson outlined the issues concerning locals as candidates made final pitches for votes.

With the region still recovering from the impact of COVID-19, worker shortages, border closures, education and airfare costs seemed to be on everyone's minds.

The pandemic initially brought an almost complete shutdown of visitors, but when borders reopened, there was a scramble to cater to an influx of domestic tourism.

Ms Muirson said it was too early to work out if the upcoming tourist season would be feast or famine.

"A lot of people are concerned about the border uncertainty as we get a little closer to the start of the 2021 season," Ms Muirson said.

She said finding workers for the season ahead was also proving to be a challenge.

"We've seen a reduction in the working holidaymaker, even the seasonal worker program has had some challenges. We're talking about 30,000 less working holidaymakers in the state," Ms Muirson said.

"A lot of businesses are paying more in the current market for labour."

Projects offer hope, more training needed

The Kimberley has always attracted big players looking to develop large infrastructure, mining and agriculture projects.

However, many struggle to overcome the high costs associated with operating in a remote area with limited infrastructure.

Although plans for one of the world's largest prawn farms on Legune Station near Kununurra have all but stalled, Ms Muirson said locals were still hopeful it could be developed to give the region a boost.

"I think the whole town here is quite excited about the prawn farm. There's always a lot of talk about that," she said.

A proposal to build a cotton gin in the Ord Irrigation Scheme has also brought some hope to residents in the remote East Kimberley town, with a recent study indicating such a facility could create more than 1,000 local jobs in its first 10 years.

While these project carry big employment promises, Ms Muirson said local unemployment remained high due to low levels of skills and education.

"I think that it is a really important area that we should all be focusing on."

Affordable airfares essential

Affordable airfares connecting Kimberley towns to capital cities has been a major issue in the region for many years and was only heightened by the pandemic.

Flights between Broome and Perth shot to nearly $1,200 in mid-2020, while in Kununurra, return tickets have reached $1,800 in recent years.

Locals have also seen flights cancelled and rescheduled without warning as both major airlines started emerging from the pandemic travel slump.

Ms Muirson said she wanted to see short-term airfare support turn into ongoing solutions.

"I think the affordable airfares from Perth have been so helpful, and I'd love to see that continue," she said.

Local jobs and training a priority for Labor

Labor candidate Divina D'Anna said her family operated an accommodation and tourism business in the West Kimberley and she understood people's frustrations around the impacts of COVID-19 border restrictions.

Ms D'Anna, who will replace outgoing member Josie Farrer for the party if elected, said the McGowan government had already introduced measures to support small business suffering hardship during the pandemic.

However, she said in the long term she would like to see more emphasis placed on training programs for local people in the Kimberley to address worker shortages.

Ms D'Anna said Labor had already committed to lower TAFE fees and contributed $6 million funding to the Northern Regional TAFE and Kununurra Health and Hospital Trade Training Centre, as well as creating more jobs through the Aboriginal Ranger Program.

She said a commitment to cap the price of airfares to Perth at $299 one way would offer residents the ability to take advantage of more training and higher education opportunities.

Ms D'Anna said while it was important to attract large sustainable projects to the region, she wanted to see local businesses given priority and provide ongoing job opportunities.

When it comes to approaching economic development challenges in the region, Ms D'Anna acknowledged there was no one-size-fits-all approach for the Kimberley.

"I totally understand the priorities for places in the West Kimberley such as Broome and Derby, are different to the priorities in Wyndham and Kununurra, is different to Halls Creek and Fitzroy," she said.

"I am a big believer in local place-based activities ...whether it be business opportunities and training or addressing social needs [and] also getting a collaboration of community leaders and other service providers in that local area to help work on those issues and solutions going forward."

Liberal backs small and big business

Liberal candidate Geoff Haerewa has temporarily stepped aside from his role as the president of the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley to run in this election.

He said supporting the region's small businesses was vital in the face of COVID-19 uncertainty.

"We have to be able to pivot if COVID comes back in," Mr Haerewa said.

Mr Haerewa said better education and social support in a bid to get more local people working would support small businesses.

He said he also wanted the option to bring in workers from other areas.

"First and foremost, it's got to be local," Mr Haerewa said.

"If we cannot fill those positions, we have to go to a wider area."

Big projects, including port developments, mines and irrigation, also have a role in improving economic and social outcomes in the Kimberley, according to Mr Haerewa, as long as they are developed with local consultation.

"We've got to make sure that they don't come and rape and pillage the area, of course, but there's legislation around a lot of these proposals that would help ensure that doesn't happen."

Nationals want to reduce welfare dependence

WA Nationals candidate Millie Hills from Halls Creek said training and employing local people was the key to resolving worker shortages in the region.

"I would be going to Job Pathways who actually have got over 200 participants, I believe, in just about every town on job training," Ms Hills said.

Along with increased training opportunities for local people, Ms Hills said if elected, she would like to work with the federal government to investigate the role welfare played in local employment.

"I'd be looking at maybe a review of the actual money that comes into the Kimberley region, and I'd be wanting the Commonwealth to come and have a really good look at their programs," she said.

"I'd want to be sitting at the table with them to tell them how it would work in the Kimberley."

She said local employment on big projects, including port, mining and irrigation developments was key.

Ms Hills also identified reducing the cost of airfares to the Kimberley as an issue.

"I would lobby for it. I would put it on the table every chance I get," she said.

Greens support renewable energy

Greens candidate Naomi Pigram declined to be interviewed about economic development in the region but provided a written response to the ABC's questions.

The response included plans to improve health and education services in regional Western Australia, the promotion of renewable energy projects to boost regional economies and increased regulation around water use from some rivers.

"The Greens (WA) will generate over 48,000 jobs in green iron and steel and create a further 4,000 jobs in recycling and waste minimisation projects," the statement said in part.

"The Greens (WA) do not support carte blanche access to iconic and environmentally-pivotal waterways such as the Fitzroy River."

In response to high airfare costs in the Kimberley, the Greens' statement said they would support alternatives to air travel.

"By increasing the quality and availability of regional services, the Greens (WA) will alleviate the need for air travel for the average West Australian," the statement read in part.

"We will also invest in quality public transport options for regional WA, including increasing the frequency of intercity rail and coach services."