$20m blow to Darwin as ban allows WA to steal expedition ships and tourists

TOURISM Top End’s general manager fears the Top End tourism industry is about to lose millions in economic dollars to WA because of the NT Government’s ban on Australian based expedition cruise boats

• 5000 tourists to miss Darwin if cruise ship ban remains

Tourism Top End general manager Glen Hingley fears the Top End tourism industry is about to lose millions in economic dollars to WA because of the NT Government’s ban on Australian based expedition cruise boats.

Mr Hingley has written to the Tourism Minister Natasha Fyles, who is also the Health Minister, outlining his support for lifting of the government’s ban preventing expedition cruise ships from embarking and disembarking in Darwin.

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The ban on the ships, which carry around 100 cashed up travellers, is predicted to cost Darwin businesses $20 million in missed spending.

“These Australian expedition cruise ship have made it clear they will be cancelling if the ban isn’t lifted,” Mr Hingley said. “They are at the end of the tether and have signalled they will be taking their business to Western Australia where the government there has welcomed them with open ports.

“A lot of hard work has gone into getting the Australian crewed expedition ships to base themselves in Darwin. This is all about to disappear.

“Broome and Esperance will take our business from Darwin. The companies said the co-operation across health, police and tourism has been fantastic. They have been working with the Northern Territory so long and are bitterly disappointed at the response of the NT Government.

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“These boutique cruise companies feel like they have not been listened to and their comprehensive COVID management plans ignored.”

Mr Hingley said travellers to Darwin on the Ghan or flying in expecting to connect with their booked cruise will now have to cancel or find an alternative to Darwin.

Health and Tourism Minister Natasha Fyles said she understood the Chief Health Officer was in the process of finalising a new direction that would provide clarity for the resumption of expedition cruising in NT waters.