Cheap flights key to the Northern Territory’s future, says leading expert

THE Northern Territory risks being completely overtaken by emerging tourist destinations like Far North Queensland and Western Australia if high flight prices continue to deter travellers, according to a leading expert

Collin Leung, of Woolner, at Darwin Airport, believes something should be done to alleviate the costs of flying in and out of Darwin. Picture: Justin Kennedy

THE Northern Territory risks being completely overtaken by emerging tourist destinations like Far North Queensland and Western Australia if high flight prices continue to deter travellers, according to one leading expert.

Demographer Bernard Salt said cheaper flights have the potential to “significantly boost” the Territory’s tourism market within the next decade.

“Certainly when you deliver cheap flights, my observation is that it builds market depth — it creates opportunity,” he said.

“There are a few good examples of places that have become tourist destinations through the facility of cheap flights, like Cairns, the Whitsundays and places like Coffs Harbour.

“I think being able to deliver relatively cheap flights between the eastern seaboard and Darwin is significantly attractive, based on the experience of other cities around Australia where this has worked.”

Mr Salt said he expects cheaper flights would transform the tourism market with volume demand for hotels and impact on restaurants.

“In an ideal world if you were to have a decade of significantly reduced airfares — because of good marketing and demand — that would have a positive impact on the job creation and general prosperity in the Northern Territory,” he said.

As droves of travellers made their way through Darwin Airport on Thursday, Woolner resident Collin Leung returned from holidays in Perth.

He believes there should be something done to alleviate the costs to fly in and out of Darwin.

Instead of flying to Perth next month to meet family, Mr Leung said they would be meeting overseas instead.

“Rather than flying from Darwin to Perth to meet my partner’s daughter we’re going to meet in Bali because it’s a lot cheaper,” he said.

“It’s a bit ridiculous when you think about it really, that it’s cheaper to fly internationally than it is to fly interstate from Darwin.”