Tourism operators reporting ‘mass cancellations’ after A Current Affair’s report, MLA Marie-Clare Boothby says

UPDATE: HOTEL bookings have remained steady in Central Australia despite reports of some “mass cancellations” following Monday’s A Current Affair report, Hospitality NT says

• Spotlight put on Crime in Alice Springs in special A Current Affair report
• ‘A desperate plea from a desperate community’: Robyn Lambley calls for immediate action on Alice crime

UPDATE: HOTEL bookings have remained steady in Central Australia despite reports of some “mass cancellations” following Monday’s A Current Affair report, Hospitality NT says.

A Current Affair aired a special report on crime in Alice Springs on Monday after receiving dozens of emails from locals calling for help to address the situation.

CLP’s Member for Brennan Marie-Clare Boothby said she had spoken to tourism operators in Central Australia, who were reporting mass cancellations, including a conference group since the program was televised.

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However, Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said he had also been speaking with businesses in Alice Springs and was hearing a much different story.

“There are issues that need addressing in Alice Springs no doubt about it, but accommodation providers are reporting solid forward bookings leading into Easter and Parrtjima and very little change since A Current Affair aired its Tuesday’ report,” he said.

Fight on Alice Springs council lawns was featured in a news program on A Current Affair.

Ms Boothby said she believed the report had landed Central Australia in the middle of a “PR disaster.”

“More than 1.5 million people have now viewed the A Current Affair report, which aired on Monday night, on social media, in addition to the 700,000 Australians who watched the broadcast on television,” she said.

“That’s more than 2 million people who have now witnessed the Chief Minister’s negligent failures on youth crime.

“We can’t repair the image of Central Australia while we still have rampant crime and swarms of youths on our streets.

“Reversing Labor’s weak bail laws to address the issue of repeat offending is one way we can start to turn the tide.”

It comes after Tourism Minister Natasha Fyles admitted she was worried about the level of crime in Alice Springs and called for a “solution-focused” response.

“We all have to work together — as a community, as a government — to make sure that we have Alice Springs as a safe, vibrant community,” she told Mix 104.9.

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“We need that community. It’s a pivotal service to many remote communities, but it’s also a key tourism location, and to have it perceived through the way it was presented last night, certainly is disappointing.

“We need to be solution-focused, working with the community.”

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