$2 million relief plan for struggling NT tourism industry

THE Territory Government has rolled out a $2 million tourism relief plan to support businesses struggling to cope with low visitor numbers due to the coronavirus outbreak and Australian bushfires

Acting Tourism Minister Eva Lawler has announced a $2 million tourism resilience plan to minimise the impact to the tourism industry from the coronavirus outbreak and Australian bushfires

THE Territory Government has rolled out a $2 million tourism resilience plan to support businesses struggling to cope with low visitor numbers due to the coronavirus outbreak and Australian bushfires.

Acting Tourism Minister Eva Lawler said the government’s new tourism resilience plan included a new domestic marketing push.

Tourism NT is funding a ‘Holiday Here This Year’ campaign aiming to attract more Aussie visitors, partnering with Tourism Australia and offering a range of discounted advertising opportunities for NT operators.

A visitor stands in the desert landscape looking at Uluru during sunset ... the NT has rolled out a $2 million tourism resilience plan to support businesses struggling to cope with low visitor numbers. Picture: Tourism NT

“I encourage all Territorians to get on board by encouraging friends and family to holiday here in the NT this year, using the #HolidayHereThisYear hashtag, and tagging @NTaustralia on their holiday snaps,” she said.

Tourism Top End general manager Glen Hingley said the 2020 tourist season ahead was still very uncertain.

The Federal Government’s attempts to stop the spread of coronavirus by banning foreigners coming into Australia from China is expected to cost the NT nearly $16 million in lost tourism revenue by March this year.

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As a part of its resilience plan, the government have also increased Education Tourism Rebate Incentives from $1000 to $3000 and doubled the incentives offered by the NT Business Event Support Fund to $200 per delegate.

A new program has also been created that offers free tourist partnership activities with Activate Darwin, Hospitality NT, Alice Springs council and other local organisations.

Originally published as $2 million relief plan for struggling NT tourism industry