‘People who travel to gamble have certain expectations’: Overhaul needed for casino ambition
A complete overhaul of facilities would be required, and significant consultation required, if Darwin was to become a casino destination, according to an academic.
Northern Territory
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A COMPLETE overhaul of tourism, accommodation and hospitality facilities would be required, and significant consultation required, if Darwin was to become a casino destination, according to an academic.
Flinders University Management Professor Roberta Crouch said an investment in infrastructure would be needed to elevate the Top End to meet the standards of people who travel specifically for casinos.
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“People who travel to gamble have certain expectations about accommodation, services, food, infrastructure. Are those other things going to be there as well?” she said.
“It could bring investment and money for sure. That’s the whole idea of tourism, to get people to come and spend money, to eat and drink and shop and experience the local culture and attractions.
“All other small businesses not directly related to tourism will prosper along with it.”
She added that thorough community and industry consultation would be needed.
“Gambling is a form of industry. If you want to embed a certain economic growth factor then sure that can work, but it needs to be a decision in terms of cost versus benefit,” Prof Crouch said.
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“It needs to be planned appropriately with community engagement so that the people living in the community are happy with the outcome, and whether or not that type of industry is what stakeholders want Darwin to be known for.
“When people think of Darwin they think of Kakadu, Crocodile Dundee, and I understand you will want to be known for more than that and I think you should.
“Think about the strategy holistically and ask how you can add another dimension to it without diminishing the attractiveness and wildness of the Northern Territory.”
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