NT tourism operators reflect on damning tourism season as figures show a decline in international visitors

NT TOURISM operators are reflecting on a damning tourism season as figures show a decline in international visitors despite China’s Donghai Airlines beginning flights to Darwin this year

TOURISM operators are yet to see an influx of visitors from China since Donghai Airlines starting flying direct to Darwin nearly six months ago.

Statistics from Tourism Research Australia showed a 7.4 per cent drop in international visitors to the NT in the year to June to 283,000, with major declines in tourists from the UK, US and Germany.

Adelaide River Tours owner Kelly Julicher said the number of tourists had declined and most of their visitors were from interstate.

“We’ve only been in the industry a couple of seasons but it has definitely declined a bit, we certainly see a lot of southerners, more so than international guests,” she said.

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“It’s dead now – I want to know where all of these Chinese people are who were meant to be here with Donghai Airlines … I haven’t seen one person from China ring up and make a booking, a lot of the other tourist operators are saying the same thing.”

Chilli’s Backpackers marketing manager Debbie Turner said Darwin didn’t provide opportunities offered elsewhere across the globe.

“Other countries around the world have opened up in the last two years that were a lot more expensive, like South America, but now kids are flying there all the time,” she said.

“Poor Darwin, we’ve regressed and not progressed, we don’t have enough to do, it’s boring for backpackers here.”

Tourism Minister Lauren Moss said the declining number of tourists could be put down to a number of issues including workers on major projects occupying hotels and plane seats. But she said a record $103 million stimulus package should help draw more tourists to the Northern Territory.

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“The Territory Labor Government is investing in our vital tourism industry through our record $103 million turbocharging tourism stimulus,” she said. “I expect to see these figures improve once the current turbocharged activities and marketing initiatives convert to on-ground visitation,” Ms Moss said.

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“The flow-on economic benefits of turbocharging tourism ripple through many of our key industry sectors.”

Ms Moss pointed to a number of campaigns that proved successful last year, including a Jetstar and MasterChef campaign, coinciding with the Prince of Wales’ royal tour and the Fly Free and Outback payback incentives aimed at American tourists.