TOURISM NT INDUSTRY UPDATE - KEEPING YOU INFORMED || VIEW ONLINE

Million Dollar Road Trip to the NT!

In a bid to further entice interstate travellers to the NT, the NT Government has teamed up with the Caravanning Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) for a new consumer marketing campaign - the Million Dollar Road Trip to the NT.
The Million Dollar Road Trip to the NT competition offers self-drive travellers who visit and explore the NT between May to September 2024 a chance to win $1 million cash from the CIAA.
The campaign encourages tourists and Territorians to book an experience through one of the participating operators, stay at a participating caravan park or visit one of the Territory’s Visitor Information Centres.
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NEWS

Refreshed Aboriginal Tourism Strategy released

The refreshed strategy outlines a new vision to inspire visitors to connect through immersive tourism experiences that sustain future generations and a mission to support Aboriginal Territorians participating in the tourism sector to benefit economically, socially and culturally.

The updated strategy is backed by a $6 million investment to deliver strategic Indigenous tourism projects from the Territory and Australian Governments announced in April with a number of grant programs currently open to Territory based majority owned Aboriginal businesses and organisations.

Success at ATE 2024

Over 50,000 appointments were held during the 2024 Australian Tourism Exchange which is Australia’s largest tourism B2B event.
This year, tourism operators from around the country converged in Melbourne from 20 – 24 May 2024 to meet with over 700 buyers from 37 countries.
Visit Victoria did a magnificent job at hosting the event which saw 31 NT tourism operators head down to showcase the very best of the Territory.

Top End Bub funded by Screen Territory

“Top End Bub” is an Amazon Prime series and a spin-off of "Top End Wedding," starring Miranda Tapsell and Gwilym Lee (The Great, Bohemian Rhapsody) as Lauren and Ned, now caring for Lauren's orphaned niece. Returning cast includes Ursula Yovich and Huw Higginson and sees the recent additions of Rob Collins, Brooke Satchwell, Guy Simon, and Clarence Ryan to the cast. Directed by Christiaan Van Vuuren and Shari Sebbens, and produced by Goalpost Pictures, the series is currently filming in the Top End and will be premiering on Prime Video in 2025.

Screen Territory supports feature film 'Kangaroo'

Screen Territory funds "Kangaroo," a family comedy filming in Alice Springs starring Ryan Corr and Lily Whiteley. Corr plays Chris Masterman, an ex-TV personality stranded in an Outback town, where he befriends 11-year-old Charlie (Whiteley). They rescue orphaned joeys, leading to life-changing experiences. The cast includes Deborah Mailman and Ernie Dingo and will be shown to cinema audiences around the world.

Sunrise in the NT

Sam Mac and the Sunrise weather crew recently spent a week travelling through Central Australia and the Top End. Over 3-days Sam fronted 18 crosses from the NT and highlighted numerous experiences, attractions and events, showcasing the best of what the Territory has on offer. The crosses generated positive exposure on a national level, to help drive awareness and visitation ahead of our peak tourist season.

Travel Leaders USA showcase

Tourism NT headed to Cairns in May to participate in the Travel Leaders USA showcase hosted in partnership with Tourism Australia. The event showcased Australia to around 40 of the USA’s best travel advisors who work within the Travel Leaders network. Tourism NT was thrilled to have showcased the magnificent Red Centre region to attendees who were lucky enough to participate in pre and post showcase famils.

Explore Northern Territory

Australian Tourism Export Council’s (ATEC) Explore NT event saw a record 47 buyers and 35 sellers attend this year.

Over 100 delegates travelled to Darwin for the Explore Northern Territory trade event in April. Hosted for the first time since 2018, the event brought together local sellers and buyers from across Australia for product pitches, B2B meetings and networking opportunities, as well as pre and post famils showcasing the very best of the Territory hosted by Tourism NT.

A huge thank you to all involved, and we look forward to seeing you at ATEC’s Meeting Place in October.

Welcome back to Uluru Virgin Aus!

Central Australia is set for a tourism boost with two new airline routes returning direct to Uluru this week.

The first of two new services will land in the Red Centre direct from Melbourne this afternoon (Thursday) with Queensland passengers arriving in Uluru tomorrow.

From today, Virgin Australia now flies direct to Uluru from Melbourne four times a week and Brisbane three times a week.

The new routes were secured in partnership with Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia through the NT Government's Aviation Attraction Incentive Scheme.

PRODUCT UPDATES

Novotel gains sustainable tourism accreditation

Congratulations to Novotel Darwin CBD for meeting globally recognised sustainable tourism standards to become the first urban hotel in the Northern Territory to achieve Ecotourism Australia’s prestigious Sustainable Tourism Certification.
The hotel joins a growing cohort of sustainability focused urban accommodations across Australia seeking credible sustainability recognition and is the eighth Accor property to be awarded Sustainable Tourism Certification.

INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES

NT Export Award nominations now open

Nominations are now open for the 2024 Chief Minister’s NT Export Awards, celebrating the Territory’s most innovative exporters and recognising their success on the international stage.
The awards recognise the achievements of Territory exporters and the impact they have on both the Territory and the nation’s economy.
Nominations close on 14 June 2024.
For further information and to nominate visit www.exportawards.gov.au

2024 Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Awards are open for nominations

The prestigious Brolga Awards is your chance to gain recognition and showcase excellence in your tourism or hospitality business!

In addition to the submission support funding available through Tourism Top End and Tourism Central Australia, Tourism NT offers a free assistance program. Here’s what you can take advantage of during the submission process:

Up to 1 hour guidance for entrants without QTF accreditation or Star Ratings to meet the business or accommodation standards requirements.
One-on-one mentoring appointments with a Tourism NT Brolga Awards representative.
Judges feedback for previous entrants – learn from past submissions and improve your 2024 submission.
Mock review – receive up to 1 hour per business for a review of your draft submission.

Plus, access a range of resources including handy videos, informative webinars and key dates to keep you on track.
Visit www.brolgaawards.com.au to find out more and nominate today.

EVENTS

Lucky local fisho now a millionaire

Million Dollar Fish Season 9 was the biggest ever with a lucky 19-year-old Katherine man reeling in the Territory’s prized million-dollar barra. Season 9 had the highest number of registrations since the competition began in 2015 – 61,194 compared to 47,949. More than half (51.85%) were from interstate, showing how word is spreading as more people come to the Territory to try their luck. Visit milliondollarfish for more info.

BASSINTHEGRASS draws massive crowd

With a close-to-sold-out crowd and the most acts ever, BASSINTHEGRASS was a massive drawcard in 2024. More than 16,000 people came through the gates at Mindil Beach on 18 May to make the most of 42 acts including international stars and the nation’s hottest artists. More than 24 per cent of attendees were from interstate, providing a boost to the local economy and supporting our tourism sector. Visit bassinthegrass.com.au for more info.

Betr Darwin Triple Crown roars into town

The betr Darwin Triple Crown Supercars Indigenous Round roars into town next weekend from 14-16 June. In a first for Australia there will be a Track to Town on Thursday 13 June, where supercars will make their way to the CBD from the Hidden Valley racetrack. The benefits to the Territory’s economy are immense, not only from all the many visitors travelling here, but also the competitors and their support crews. Visit www.darwinsupercars.com.au for more info.

Score a ticket for Harlem Globetrotters

Be part of the hoopla to watch the iconic basketball team The Original Harlem Globetrotters perform in Darwin this month. Limited tickets are available for both shows on Monday 24 June, and Tuesday 25 June. The visit is part of an Australian and New Zealand tour and comes as basketball continues to soar in popularity in the Territory. Visit http://hg2024.nbl.com.au/