‘Emotional rollercoaster’ for Top End tourism sector as half priced airfare flip flop causes confusion

Top End tourism operators are rejoicing following a rollercoaster of confusion surrounding the federal government’s plan to halve airfares to key hubs across the country to boost travel.

TOP End tourism operators are rejoicing following a rollercoaster of confusion surrounding the federal government’s plan to halve airfares to key hubs across the country to boost travel.

The major communication fumble by the federal government has been labelled an “emotional rollercoaster” and “soul destroying” by the Top End’s peak tourism body.

The federal government on Wednesday night revealed its $1.2bn tourism sector lifeline to replace the JobKeeper subsidy, with the package to include half-priced airfares to hubs, including Alice Springs and Uluru.

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – NewsWire Photos MARCH 11, 2021: Pictured Deputy Premier Michael McCormack, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and behind, Minister for Tourism Dan Tehan share a laugh on the way to their press conference at Qantas Hangar 96 at Sydney Airport in Sydney NSW. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

Darwin originally failed to make the list of 13 hubs, to the chagrin of Top End tourism and industry bodies and businesses.

In a series of confusing events on Thursday, federal Tourism Minister Dan Tehan told Mix 104.9FM’s Katie Woolf that half-priced flights to Darwin would be made available, only to be contradicted less than an hour later by the Prime Minister’s office.

Darwin was not on the list, then on, then off and at 12.30pm CLP Senator Sam McMahon revealed Darwin was back on, for real this time.

Senator McMahon said she had spoken to Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack on Wednesday night and “demanded” Darwin be added to the list.

“He has confirmed to me that it will be part of the package,” she said.

Country Liberal Senator for the Northern Territory Sam McMahon.

It remains unclear which flight routes to Darwin will be discounted.

Under the original package, airfares between Darwin and Cairns and Darwin and Broome were slated to be halved.

The NT News understands the government is still working through the detail and one likely route is Townsville to Darwin.

The number of discounted airfares offered per route will be demand driven, with the government estimating an average of 46,000 cheap fares per week will be made available directly from airlines starting April 1.

Top End Tourism general manager Glen Hingley said it was “unfair” to stressed and anxious businesses that the announcement, which came so close to the looming JobKeeper deadline, was fumbled.

Tourism Top End general manager Glen Hingley. Picture: Che Chorley

“That said, we are extremely grateful that the Top End has been recognised as one of the leading destinations in Australia,” he said.

“We now need to look forward to getting our heads back in the game.”

Solomon MP Luke Gosling slammed the commonwealth’s fumble as “shambolic” and “a kick in the guts”, while his Labor colleague Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said businesses needed “certainty and confidence, not yo-yoing on destination announcements”.

Tourism Central Australia chief executive Danial Rochford said the industry in the Red Centre had faced its “darkest days” in the wake of the pandemic and the federal government’s support package was the “light at the end of the tunnel”.

“The concern I would share is that we are worried about businesses who are at that cliff face and without the ongoing support of JobKeeper they face the situation of job losses or long-term viability as a business,” he said.