Kakadu banks on much-needed visitor boost through $446m proposed Jabiru overhaul

IT’S hoped a major overhaul of Jabiru will address a massive fall in international tourists visiting Kakadu National Park

Concept art for the new-look Jabiru

IT’S hoped a major overhaul of Jabiru will address a massive fall in international tourists visiting Kakadu National Park.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner yesterday joined Mirrar traditional owner Simon Mudjandi and Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Justin O’Brien to launch plans to revitalise the town, amid falling tourism numbers and the upcoming closure of the Ranger uranium mine.

The business case for the $446 million proposal shows total tourist numbers in the park have fallen from almost 300,000 a year in the late 1980s to about 185,000 today.

And the number of international tourists coming to Kakadu has plummeted from almost 150,000 per year to only just 30,000 over the same period.

Once considered one of the jewels in Australia’s tourism crown, a report released as part of the new proposal paints a grim picture for Kakadu.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVING

“Social media sources indicate KNP no longer rates as one of the top 20 locations to visit by Tourism Australia, and Lonely Planet and other major online forums place Uluru as a must-see while Kakadu does not feature,” it says.

But there are hopes a massive revitalisation project can turn those numbers around, bringing an extra million tourists over the next decade.

The plans, first revealed in yesterday’s NT News, include a World Heritage Interpretative Centre to showcase the park’s natural and cultural features, a croc-free recreation lake, a five-star lodge and up-market glamping facility and a new airport.

The Government will guarantee service provision in the town for at least the next five years. “Jabiru has a bright future,” Mr Gunner said.

The proposal includes plans for the Bininj Resource Centre.

Mr Mudjandi said the facility would include a language centre, business centre, art-making area and meeting place.

“It’s really important, it’s not only for our mob, it’s for everyone living in Jabiru,” he said.