Territory Tourism Voucher scheme should become a seasonal fixture after huge success

THE huge popularity of the Territory Tourism Voucher scheme shows it should become a regular thing, particularly in the Territory’s shoulder tourism season when the industry needs it most.

The spectacular Nitmiluk Gorge (Katherine Gorge) in Nitmiluk National Park. Picture: Tourism NT

THE embarrassing public relations disasters that have surrounded a number of the NT Government’s economic stimulus incentive schemes has proven one thing.

If you give something to Territorians they will give something in return.

If you give Territorians the proper incentive to part with their money they will do it.

We said it back in March when we started campaigning for tourism incentive vouchers. And once again we have been proven right.

In the first round of tourism vouchers 21,000 people clogged the online portal trying to snap of a $200 travel voucher. It was an overwhelming success.

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The same occurred on Monday night when the second round of 12,000 tourism vouchers became available. Bingo, a huge success.

When registrations for the voucher opened at 8pm there were 26,700 unique visitors to the website in the first hour. This was almost 10 times the traffic experienced in round 1 and the level of traffic to the website caused extended wait times for thousands of people.

Millions upon millions have been poured back into the economy because of these schemes helping struggling Territory businesses.

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The tourism vouchers should be a regular thing, particularly in the Territory’s shoulder tourism season when the industry needs it most.

It’s been road tested and Territorians have shown that it works.