Tourism website crashes as thousands try to register for second round of $200 vouchers

UPDATE: Tourism Minister Natasha Fyles says the tourism voucher website received ten times the traffic during round two but the site crashed almost immediately after registrations opened at 8pm last night

UPDATED: Tourism Minister Natasha Fyles says the tourism voucher website received ten times the traffic during round two but the site crashed almost immediately after registrations opened at 8pm last night.

Thousands of Territorians logged on to try and register for their vouchers on the stroke of 8pm as the website went live.

A message on the site said: “Hold tight …we’ll be right back.

“We’re sorry, the Territory Tourism Voucher website is currently experiencing high demand.

“We’re working on it, so please check back soon.

“Voucher registrations are open from 2 November to 31 January. Vouchers are valid for 14 days, and all travel must be completed by 31 January 2021.

“Thank you for your patience.”

Some people began reporting that they had ben able to access the website from about 8.30pm but many continued to complain that they were unable to.

NT News readers took to our Facbook posts to voice their frustration.

Debbie Reeves wrote: “Nobody saw that coming”.

KJ Dobson said: “Same as last time”.

Ted Clark said he was almost there but put in his details “but it froze before I could submit”.

Others, such as Andrew Chan, found the funny side. “Any tips for the Melbourne Cup people.”

Another reader said thy had been able to get on to the website through their mobile phone.

“For some reason it’s working on my phone but everyone else I know can’t get in.”

Others said they had been able to get through to the website from the link on Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s Facebook page.

EARLIER: Thousands of Territorians are expected to snap up all the available $200 second round toursim vouchers within a few hours of online registrations opening at 8pm tonight

The first round of the $200 tourism voucher scheme saw 21,000 vouchers redeemed in few hours in July and tonight’s vouchers are expected to be claimed even quicker as the second round of registrations went live at www.territoryvoucher.nt.gov.au.

The vouchers are worth up to $200, matched dollar for dollar with personal spend, and can be put towards a tourism experience like tours, accommodation, hire cars or recreational fishing charters.

This round Territorians also have to option of applying for an additional bonus claim, which is a reimbursement of up to $200 based on a dollar for dollar investment when the product you book is more than 400km from your permanent residence.

Tourism Top End general manager Glen Hingley said the $200 bonus claim was strictly optional, with all unspent funding put back in the pool for future releases to those on the waitlist.

“They are so many experiences that could easily qualify you for the $200 bonus claim, for example, Darwin residents could go to Gove for a fishing trip or hit the road down to Mataranka or Uluru,” he said.

“This bonus is also a great way of encouraging Central Australian residents to come up for a Top End trip.”

Successful registrations should receive their voucher code within seven days. Once you receive your voucher, you will have 14 days to make your booking and will need to travel before January 31, 2021.