Businesses fear visa changes to backpacker visas will make staffing harder

Kimberley businesses fear new visa changes will mean fewer backpackers in remote towns. ( ABC Kimberley: Giulia Bertoglio )

Businesses in remote Western Australia's north are nervous about their future workforce after changes to backpacker entitlements.

The federal government plans to reduce the number of working holiday visas in a bid to reduce migration.

Backpackers and foreign holiday-makers often perform essential jobs in regional parts of Australia.

Businesses across Western Australia's north are worried recent visa changes will mean fewer backpackers choose to work in remote regions where they are most needed.

The federal government has recently announced changes to the Working Holiday Maker visa program, which could influence decisions of backpackers coming to Australia in the future.

"I did come here to work towards my third year visa, and if that wasn't an option, I would never have come here," Zac Cederholm said.

The American barista moved to Kununurra, about 3,000 kilometres north of Perth, a few years ago and now manages a cafe — but said he would not have ventured this remote today.

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