‘For tourism businesses hearing that was a real challenge’: New border rules to hurt tourism

A local tourism authority says harsher protocols for entry into Northern Territory would hurt the appeal of coming to the NT.

HARSHER protocols for entry into Northern Territory is expected to further impact dwindling tourist numbers.

The Territory government announced on Sunday it had tightened up quarantine rules so workers, specifically, would not turn the Howard Springs facility into a “transit lounge” while travelling ­between states.

The move is set to force visitors from hotspots to obtain a pre-approved exemption to cross the border.

Tourism Top End general manager Glen Hingley said the measures would hurt the appeal of coming to the Territory.

”A lockdown in the southern states is a lockdown on the Territory. For tourism businesses hearing that was a real challenge for them.”

Tourism Top End represents more than 550 operators.

Mr Hingley said his members were collectively suffering to the tune of $8m a day.

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Back when international arrivals drove local tourism to be the fourth biggest sector in the Territory economy, it turned over $2.2bn in 2019 alone.

“What we are highly conscious of is our message on a national level and our businesses in the tourism sector are being crushed by Covid,” he said. One in eight Territorians employed by tourism has been hurt by the losses.

Mr Hingley said Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s announcement would have an impact on tourists heading north for a holiday. “These words weren’t spoken but in the sound bite of the Territory, of course, but the government announces this: does this make the Top End of the NT less likely for a potential travellers to want to come here,” he said.