Govt releases new 10-year tourism plan to drive international and domestic tourism

The Territory government has released a 10-year plan in place to drive domestic and international travellers.

A PLAN to increase the number of visitors to the Northern Territory and make them stay longer is part of a new 10-year strategy to boast the Territory as the perfect destination for a road trip.

Enhanced marketing and regional destination management plans are at the core of the plan, which Tourism and Hospitality Minister Natasha Fyles said would show how the Top End was an iconic destination for Australians and international visitors.

“This strategy will help us attract new people to the market and expand the length of stay that we see drive tourists in the Territory,” she said.

The project particularly aims to boost tourism in regional parts of the Territory.

“Often people can be travelling from the centre up to the Top End with the aim to get to Litchfield or Kakadu,” Ms Fyles said.

“We want to highlight to them that there are many iconic attractions along the way.”

Acting as an investment guide, the document looks at infrastructure, events and communications.

The strategy is modelled using 2019 pre Covid-19 statistics to forecast when the Territory does see international tourism.

A Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade spokesman said Tourism NT issued a public tender in June 2020 for the development of a Drive Tourism Strategy.

KPMG was awarded the contract in August 2020 at a value of $99,700 including GST.

The document described as a “body of work” is a complete overlay of a decade-long strategy, including statistics, priorities and targets.

“This document is a long-term strategy to take us through to 2030,” Ms Fyles said. “We know that drive tourism will be popular.”

The strategy comes ahead of the release of the Territory tourism vouchers fourth round later next month.

The incentive is eligible for Territorians planning to travel more than 400km within the Territory.

“People are excited about the vouchers,” Ms Fyles said.

“We know that Territorians are keen to get out there, they showed that last year by falling in love with their own backyard.”

For more information about the Drive Tourism Strategy visit the tourism NT website at tourismnt.com.au