Arrivals into the NT a ‘trickle’ compared to pre-pandemic levels, NT Hospitality chief says, amid heightened border breach fears

THE number of travellers now flowing into the NT is less than one fifth of what it usually is, so Territorians should ‘feel safe’, the NT peak hospitality body has said in a bid to quell concern over coronavirus.

THE number of travellers now flowing into the NT is less than one fifth of what it usually is, so Territorians should “feel safe”, the NT peak hospitality body has said in a bid to quell concern over coronavirus.

It comes as fears are heightened about border controls following an outbreak scare in Queensland caused by two infected teenagers who lied about a trip to Melbourne.

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said July arrivals were a “trickle” not a flood, when compared to arrival numbers from the same time last year, signalling this meant current border measures were working.

The number of travellers now flowing into the NT is less than one fifth of what it was the same time last year. Picture: Glenn Campbell

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Official domestic aviation figures show a total of 144,674 people flew into the NT through Darwin, Alice Springs and Yulara (Ayers Rock) airports in July 2019.

NT Airports, which runs facilities in Darwin and Alice Springs, told Mr Bruce an estimated 27,500 people would have flow into the Territory through those locations this July.

That figure represented 19.1 per cent of the July 2019 figure.

Mr Bruce said the low numbers meant tourism and hospitality businesses were still “significantly impacted” by the pandemic slowdown.

It comes as the Mutitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation remains in discussion with stakeholders, including Tourism Top End and the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Board, in a bid to prevent direct flights to Yulara airport out of fear of the virus coming into the community.

MCAC general manager Glenn Irvine said they understood the first flight to Yulara since the pandemic was due to touch down on Monday from Brisbane.

“Our concern hasn’t dropped,” he said.

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Secure NT confirmed 18,457 people had crossed into the NT in the two weeks since borders reopened.

A total of 484 people are in mandatory quarantine, with 67 people due to be released today.

Australia yesterday recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic yet, with 13 deaths and 732 new cases in Victoria, 18 cases in New South Wales and three in Queensland.