Don’t forget about us: Tourism and accommodation operators want in on potential hospitality voucher scheme
TOURISM and accommodation businesses want to be included in any form of coronavirus recovery voucher scheme, as revealed by the NT News this week, to keep Territory businesses alive.
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TOURISM and accommodation businesses want to be included in any form of coronavirus recovery voucher scheme, as revealed by the NT News yesterday, to keep Territory businesses alive.
A Territory Government report indicates just 1.4 per cent of “overnight visitors” to NT locations are intrastate travellers, with the tourism and accommodation sectors not traditionally targeting locals.
But with borders closed, many businesses are facing a bleak dry season.
Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise chief executive Wes Field said the vouchers would work best in a package, where Territorians could put money into accommodation and tourism on top of restaurants and retailers.
“I think they need to be careful how they go about doing it, otherwise we have three or four restaurants in town with thousands (of dollars) and the guy down the road running a small tour company has absolutely nothing,” he said.
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Chief Minister Michael Gunner hasn’t ruled out a voucher scheme, saying he’ll do whatever it takes to help Territory businesses.
The cruise operation is one of several businesses run by the Arirrki Aboriginal Corporation, which supports the Anindilyakwa community on Groote Eylandt, who could suffer if Mr Field has to change his business model.
“If I was hoping to break even, I technically need 120 people a day through my business,” he said.
“I’m seriously considering reviewing my business plan for the time being and I can see it going from seven days a week to four, and four cruises a day to three, so no way will I be doing 120 people. At best I’ll be doing 90-a-day four days a week.
“We typically put back over $100,000 into the community … I’m gonna struggle to do that. I will have to seriously review what we’re putting back into it.”
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Zen Ramada Suites marketing manager Michelle Henson said with less than 2 per cent of tourism revenue accounted for by Territorians, many businesses would struggle without some sort of assistance.
“If we don’t get some kind of managed interstate tourism travel, there will be many operators that close this year and may not ever be able to open,” she said.
“(People) living in Larrakeyah could go to Palmerston, could go to Litchfield, use some of those small operators that need help.”
Originally published as Don’t forget about us: Tourism and accommodation operators want in on potential hospitality voucher scheme