NT Government rules out extension to tourism voucher scheme use-by date as deadline looms

THE NT Government will not be extending the use-by deadline for the first batch of tourism voucher holders, despite many saying they have had problems trying to make bookings

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THE NT Government will not be extending the use-by deadline for the first batch of tourism voucher holders, despite many saying they have had problems trying to make bookings.

With the deadline for the first batch of NT Tourism voucher holders to put in place their staycation plans just a day or so away, there have been calls to extend the deadline.

However, a spokesman for Tourism NT said with thousands on the waitlist there would be no extension to the 30-day period.

“We’re encouraging Territorians to book online in the first instance or check in with the other Visitor Information Centres to see if the booking is available through them,” the spokesman said.

“The Northern Territory Government has announced another two rounds of the popular Territory Tourism Vouchers, with more details to be made available in the coming months.”

The NT Government will not be extending the use-by deadline for the first batch of tourism voucher holders. Pictured is a tourist on a boat cruise in Katherine Gorge, Nitmiluk National Park. Picture: Tourism NT/Emilie Ristevski

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Hospitality NT chief executive officer Alex Bruce has supported calls for an extension.

Mr Bruce applauded the NT government’s second round of tourism vouchers announced yesterday, but said the problems encountered with the first round warranted consideration for an extension of the use-by deadline.

“The latest round of vouchers are good … $200 for a staycation or $400 if you are willing to go more than 500km from your home is attractive,” he said

“The response to the vouchers was overwhelming and the sheer volume has made the process more difficult than anticipated it would seem.

“Extending it would be a practical solution.”

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Top End Tourism general manager Glen Hingley acknowledged the magnitude of the mammoth task of trying to process tens of thousands of voucher holders in four weeks.

“26,000 people has been a lot of people to process in a month and I’m not sure of any travel business or like industry that would be able to do that,” he said.

“There are quite a few thousand who haven’t used their vouchers and we are having massive days. It has been a learning experience for us all.”