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2022 Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Award Winners

Twenty-five Northern Territory businesses were recognised at the 35th Brolga Awards on Saturday 12 November 2022. The Brolga Awards celebrate individual contributions as well as the best tourism operators and products across the Northern Territory.

Char Restaurant and The Darwin Club took out the Chairman’s Choice for Tourism Excellence, as well as the Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services Award and for the fourth year running Katherine Outback Experience won Best Tourist Attraction.

A pioneer in sustainable travel, Grant Hunt AM was named the winner of the Tourism Minister’s Perpetual Trophy, in recognition of his contribution to nature-based tourism.

NEWS

Tourism NT Annual Report released

Tourism NT’s 2021-22 Annual Report has been released, reflecting on a transitional year for tourism that demonstrated the resilience and capability of our industry. The Report records the performance, achievements and activities undertaken by Tourism NT in the past year to support the recovery of tourism in the Northern Territory.

Maiden visit for the Queen Elizabeth

The Queen Elizabeth cruised into Fort Hill Wharf this morning (25 November) with 1508 passengers and 788 crew on board, marking it the third large cruise liner to arrive in Darwin since the resumption of international cruise. In a sign that cruise tourism is on the upward swing, Darwin has welcomed three ships this week including the Noordam that visited yesterday (24 November) and a further 930 crew and passengers will be arriving on the Viking Orion due into Darwin Port tomorrow, 26 November at 12.30pm. To learn more about cruise market and NT Cruise Tourism Strategy READ MORE

Second Aboriginal Tourism Strategy Progress Report released

The second progress report on the Northern Territory Aboriginal Tourism Strategy 2020 - 2030 was released this month as part of the inaugural Aboriginal Tourism Forum. Set to be an annual event, the Aboriginal tourism forum brought operators, potential market entrants, industry bodies and other stakeholders to drive the future of the strategy, identify new opportunities and learn from previous successes and challenges.

Country is Calling in the NT

Tourism NT has launched a new Country is Calling digital video series that showcases top spots in the Top End for families to connect with Country and Aboriginal cultures. A collaboration between Tourism NT and Screen Territory, the series highlights the Barrumbi Kids stars Nick Bonson and Caitlin Hordern’s favourite family friendly places to be immersed in Country and Aboriginal culture in the Big Rivers region. From sprawling national parks and water holes, to local Aboriginal communities brimming with vibrant arts, culture and festivals Barrumbi Kids received funding support from Screen Territory.

NT Sustainable Tourism Action Plan

Tourism NT has delivered a Sustainable Tourism Action Plan, working to place the Northern Territory as a compelling destination for authentic sustainable travel, and to help the NT tourism industry become a positive driver for sustainable development and conservation of our natural and cultural heritage and landscapes.

EoI opens for new Darwin Convention Centre Hotel

Expressions of Interest for the Darwin Convention Centre Hotel is now open. The NT Government’s commercial advisor, CBRE Hotels, commenced market sounding for the investment opportunity last month and so far have received strong interest from both investors and hotel operators, including Accor, EVT, Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG), Marriott, Radisson Hotel Group and Toga Far East Hotels. Experienced proponents interested in the opportunity can visit the CBRE website with the EOI closing on 31 January 2023.

New evening experiences for visitors

Four tourism operators across the Northern Territory are creating new evening experiences for visitors, to enhance their attractions and encourage more tourists to visit the NT. The Adelaide River Inn and Daly Waters Pub will be creating outdoor cinemas, to encourage families to stay longer, while the Katherine Outback Experience will develop a family friendly evening outdoor dining experience.

INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES

EoI to join NT Aboriginal Tourism Committee

We are seeking Aboriginal Territorians from the Barkly, Arnhem or Big Rivers regions to join the NT Aboriginal Tourism Committee (ATC). The ATC plays a key role in guiding the implementation of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Tourism Strategy 2020 - 2030, which has the vision for the NT to be the undeniable Australian leader in the Aboriginal tourism sector and contributes to the development of a sustainable and prosperous Aboriginal tourism sector. EOI closes 4pm, 9 December 2022.

NT Round Up 2023 in the Red Centre

The NT Round Up agent famil and networking event is back for 2023! NT Round Up will be held on 31 March 2023 in the Red Centre and will include a networking event between 25 domestic and NZ wholesale and frontline travel agents and Red Centre operators. If you are a distribution-ready Red Centre operator and would like to attend the NT Round Up event, submit an Expression of Interest by 20 January 2023. NT Round Up 2024 will be in the Top End.

NT represented at Australia Marketplace UK & Europe

Tourism NT attended Australia Marketplace UK & Europe 2022 in London last week. It was the first time in three years the event was held face to face. Over 100 key buyers met with six NT operators and in-market representatives from the UK and Germany teams.

Black Friday & Cyber Monday sales

To leverage the worldwide Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, the Domestic Marketing team have collated the best travel deals from our key distribution partners including Travello, Flight Centre, NT Now, Intrepid, AAT Kings, Britz and more. The campaign will aim to increase visitation during our low and shoulder seasons. Deals will be distributed to our email database, social media channels and via various earned media publications. Sale dates are 25 to 28 November.

Caravan Parks Grant Program

The Australian Government’s Caravan Parks grant is offering $10,000 to $100,000 grants with a minimum matching cash contribution for eligible caravan parks to develop or improve infrastructure and assets. Applicants with more than one park can apply for multiple grants up to $300,000. The program supports swift infrastructure upgrades with all projects to commence early 2023 and finish by 15 May 2024. Applications are open now and close 4pm (AEDST) 22 December 2022.

Book Now grants

The Book Now grant program supports NT tourism businesses to establish an online booking system integrated on an existing website or establish a turnkey website that features a booking system. Tourism businesses can apply for up to $2,500, with a matched funding contribution required. This is a non-competitive grant with businesses able to submit applications up to 30 April 2023 or until funding is fully subscribed.

Domestic Distribution grants

The Domestic Distribution grant program supports NT tourism businesses to increase their product offerings in domestic distribution. Funding is available to contract advice to price product, determine distribution potential, assist with planning, packaging, product alignment or undertake domestic sales calls with travel trade. NT tourism operators can apply for grants from $1,000 up to $5,000 with a matched funding contribution required. This is a non-competitive grant with businesses able to submit applications up to 30 April 2023 or until funding is fully subscribed.

International Distribution grants

This grant program is designed to ensure NT tourism businesses are ready for the international tourism market. Funding is available to contract advice to price product with suitable rates including commission, determine distribution potential, receive advice on international marketing plans or to develop an export marketing plan. NT tourism operators can apply for grants from $1,000 to $5,000 with a matched funding contribution required. This is a non-competitive grant with businesses able to submit applications up to 30 April 2023 or until funding is fully subscribed.

What's coming up in Domestic Trade Marketing

From December to January Tourism NT will be supporting a cooperative trade marketing campaign: Welcome to Country (until 12 December).
We are working on a busy trade marketing calendar from February onwards!
To get involved please reach out to these trade partners directly or email [email protected]

Save the Date - Towards 2030 Conference - Alice Springs & Darwin

Tourism NT and Tourism Australia in partnership with Tourism Top End and Tourism Central Australia are pleased to present the annual Towards 2030 Conference in Alice Springs on Tuesday 21 February and Darwin on Thursday 23 Feburary 2023.

MORE DETAILS COMING SOON

Parrtjima registrations now open

Excitement is building for the Red Centre’s iconic 10-night Parrtjima – A Festival in Light with registrations now open for the free event. Parrtjima, which takes place in Mparntwe (Alice Springs), will run from 7-16 April 2023. The theme for 2023 is Listening with Heart, which is inspired by the artwork surrounding the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Black Friday Supercars sale

The Darwin Triple Crown returns from 16-18 June 2023 with the annual Black Friday sale on today. A total of 40,448 attendances were recorded at the 2022 event, which was the first official Indigenous round in the history of the Repco Supercars Championship. Almost half of the people who attended the three-day motorsports event were visitors to the Top End.

NT NRL fixture locked in

NRL fans will enjoy three more years of top-flight NRL action, with the Parramatta Eels set to play in Darwin every year until 2025. In a coup for the Territory, the Eels will host the Brisbane Broncos in a blockbuster at TIO Stadium on Friday, 21 April 2023. Tickets are available now.

Red-tagged barra bonanza

Season 8 of Australia’s richest fishing competition, Million Dollar Fish, has broken records, with 14 fishos reeling in prize-tagged barramundi within the first five weeks of the season. The prize purse is the largest ever, with nine fish worth a million bucks, plus the remaining 86 fish worth $10,000, swimming around in Territory waters. You must be registered to claim any prize money.

Major events boost economy

Six events delivered by Northern Territory Major Events Company in 2021-22 were responsible for generating 276,239 visitor nights and delivered a gross expenditure stimulus of $117.7 million across the Territory. Independent research highlighted that, combined, the events recorded 135,441 attendances, with 55,530 attendees saying they were motivated to travel to a host region specifically for an event.

Community events pay dividends

Independent research has revealed 22 events that received support through the Northern Territory Major Events Company Event Funding Program delivered a gross expenditure stimulus of $39.8 million for the Territory. The events, which took place during 2021-22, attracted 99,882 attendances, with 14,874 visitors motivated to travel to a host region specifically for an event.

Epic 2023 BASSINTHEGRASS line-up

The 2023 BASSINTHEGRASS Music Festival line-up has been announced, with some of Australia’s biggest names on the bill. After a sell-out event in 2022, which saw almost 16,000 people from across the nation gather at Darwin’s iconic Mindil Beach, the Territory’s biggest and best all-ages music festival returns on 20 May, 2023.

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Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade

GPO Box 1155, Darwin NT 0801