Fyles leaves door open to one more round of Territory tourism voucher scheme after round 3 blitz

The NT government has left the door open to funding another round of its popular tourism voucher scheme. POLL INSIDE>>>Should there be another round?

THE NT government has left the door open to funding another round of its popular tourism voucher scheme, after Territorians snapped them all up within three minutes on Monday night.

The third round of Territory Tourism vouchers, worth $5m, went live at 8pm on Monday with the first 10,000 snapped up within 3.44 minutes.

Tourism Minister Natasha Fyles said by yesterday afternoon the waitlist had ballooned to 26,000 people.

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The first two rounds of the voucher scheme, also worth $5m each, netted $17m in much-needed bookings for tourism operators during a time of great turmoil for the industry.

With no international tourists expected again this dry season, Ms Fyles said the government would “continue to work” with the sector while hoping for the domestic tourism market to return to “a little more normal”.

She didn’t rule out a fourth round of tourism stimulus.

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham has left the door open to more financial support for business post-JobKeeper. NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

It comes as federal Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said the government would consider evidence to determine the best way to support businesses, including the tourism sector, when JobKeeper and the JobSeeker supplements ended next month.

Politicians, including Coalition MPs but particularly Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, have been lobbying heavily for JobKeeper to be extended. The NT government has opted for a more collegial approach.

Tourism Minister Natasha Fyles addressing the media at Phat Mango after the third and final round of the Territory Tourism Vouchers sold out in 3 minutes. She is joined by Darrel Trueman from Darwin Gourmet Tours and Phat Mango's Head Chef Martin Bouchier as they discuss local ingredients used in Martin's cooking. Picture: Che Chorley

Ms Fyles said the government was working within its budget to support the hardest -hit sectors and that keeping people in jobs was a priority the NT and commonwealth shared.

“The commonwealth government has provided a range of supports and payments, and so we’ll continue to work with them and make sure that we all do as much as we can to keep people in jobs,” she said.

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The tourism voucher scheme has proved so popular some daring entrepreneurs, like Darrel Trueman, have opted to open new businesses amid the pandemic.

Mr Trueman started Darwin Gourmet Tours five weeks ago because “Territorians were chomping at the bit” for something different as they couldn’t travel overseas.

“95 per cent of all of our bookings have been through Territory tourism vouchers so it’s been a big boost to our business,” he said.