Boon for tourism as vouchers inject almost $7.1 million into economy
MILLIONS of dollars have been generated by the Tourism NT voucher scheme in just one month, after more than 17,000 Territorians cashed in during July
Northern Territory
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- Thousands of tourism vouchers handed back unused
- Territorians to get two more rounds of tourism vouchers
- Queue out the door of Top End Tourism ahead of vouchers expiry
ALMOST $7.1 million has been generated by the Tourism NT voucher scheme in just one month, after more than 17,000 Territorians cashed in during July.
Kakadu, Nitmiluk and Kings Canyon were some of the most popular destinations, while those after an experience tended to book hot air balloon flights, fishing charters or harbour cruises. Some businesses earned more than $100,000 in July.
The vouchers — available from July 1 — matched Territorians’ spending at tourism businesses dollar-for-dollar up to $200.
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The average amount spent was $407, which means most spent the bare minimum — $200 — to receive the cash.
About 8600 of the 26,000 vouchers went unused and will be given to those on the waiting list.
Darwin Harbour Cruises general manager Rachel Beaumont-Smith said the scheme had let locals know what was happening in their own backyard.
She said Darwin Harbour Cruises usually attracted visitors but through the scheme there had been a lot of interest from locals — who may not have considered a cruise.
She said the interest in services meant they were able to increase their operation to three days a week.
“It certainly gave us a bit of a market to reopen and it meant we were able to give our employees some more shifts and allowed us to be able to start purchasing goods from our local suppliers,” she said.
The next round of the scheme will give Territorians $400 if they travel more than 500km from home.
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Top Enders will particularly be encouraged to take a road trip to Central Australia or get out to Arnhem Land.
Tourism Minister Lauren Moss said the scheme had helped tourism and hospitality businesses survive.
“Encouraging locals to get out and become a tourist in their own backyard is one of the ways the Territory government is supporting operators to get through this time,” she said.
Originally published as Boon for tourism as vouchers inject almost $7.1 million into economy
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