Government forks out $1.2m to market to NT to Europe

THE Gunner Government has signed off to spend up to $1.2m to promote the NT to European tourists over the next two years despite the Prime Minister warning overseas travel might still not return to normal in 2021

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THE Gunner Government has signed off to spend up to $1.2m to promote the Northern Territory to European tourists over the next two years despite the Prime Minister warning overseas travel might still not return to normal next year.

Tender documents reveal the NT Government has awarded a contract for tourism marketing representation services in the United Kingdom and Germany for two years, starting next month.

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The Department of Tourism awarded a contract valued at up to $1,208,709 to Emotive Travel Marketing Ltd on December 18.

It comes as Australia’s international travel ban has been extended to March 2021.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison also said he does not expect international long-haul travel to resume as normal by the end of 2021.

A Tourism NT spokeswoman said the UK and Germany markets would be key to the recovery of the NT’s tourism economy when international travel resumes.

“This contract gives the NT a presence across our main source markets in Europe — where the team will be focused on awareness activities, trade training and engagement and ensuring we have plans in place to kickstart a quick recovery strategy with our key partners across aviation, trade, media and consumer direct channels when the time is right, and it is safe for people to once again travel,” she said.

She said the two-year contract was based on six months for stage one, which is due to commence next month, and 18 months for stage two.

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“Stage one reflects the current environment for international travel and focuses on a minimal level of servicing,” she said.

“We will not progress to stage two until we know conditions are favouring leisure travel between our jurisdictions.”

Deputy Opposition Leader Gerard Maley questioned the contract’s timing.

“Now the Gunner Labor government’s plan is to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars we don’t have, marketing international travel to people who can’t come,” he said.