NT businesses have been pushed to breaking point. It’s time for action to stop them going under

IT’S been 66 days since the last person tested positive in the Northern Territory to coronavirus. And still our borders remain firmly shut

It’s been 66 days since the last person tested positive in the Northern Territory to coronavirus. And still our borders remain firmly shut. Picture Chloe Erlich

• NT, SA, WA join forces to form new Centre-West Travel Triangle plan

IT’S been 66 days since the last person tested positive in the Territory to coronavirus.

And still our borders remain firmly shut.

The longer this goes on the more businesses are being pushed to breaking point.

Little wonder Business SA has joined forces with the Chamber of Commerce NT calling for a “Centre-West Travel Triangle” to be opened between the SA, NT and WA.

The closed borders are costing the respective states and territory millions in lost tourism dollars with thousands of jobs also on the line.

This latest desperate call to re-open the borders between South Australia, the NT and Western Australia is about keeping businesses alive and protecting jobs.

Domestic spending is low, directly impacting the revenues of local business.

Something has to give and that has to come from Chief Minister Michael Gunner.

If it is not going to provide a date to open our borders, it has to listen to our calls for a tourism and hospitality stimulus voucher scheme.

We’ve outlined how it can be done.

Vouchers with a monetary value that require an equal contribution from consumers.

Let’s say $200 towards staycation packages that include visits to tourist attractions or restaurants.

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Those that use the $200 vouchers would have to contribute a similar amount.

When the borders open you can link it with airline packages to encourage people to fly to the Territory.

You have to give something to get something. So far there is not much give.