Mr STONE - 1999-10-13
I am aware that the tourism sector has had a particularly good season, principally because of successive CLP policies that have been laid down giving access to particular markets. Can the minister advise the House of the continuing growth of this sector, the largest employer of Territorians, and also of what progress is being made in relation to convention centres in Darwin and Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the tourism industry is indeed the largest single employer in the Territory. It offers a solution to many of the problems that have been alluded to here today, through young Territorians being able to get jobs. If they get an education, there is an opportunity in the Northern Territory for them to go straight into employment or certainly into relevant training. It is a situation that does not exist in a lot of places in Australia, unfortunately.
The Territory tourism industry has rebounded from the slump that occurred over the last couple of years, not just here but nationally. That is a very encouraging sign. In fact, the Northern Territory Tourist Commission’s Travel Monitor indicates that total visitor numbers increased by 80 000 or 7% over 1997-98 with expenditure up by $58m or 8% - overall, a very good result for that period. The international market continued to grow, increasing by 10% or 40 000 over the previous year, and interstate visitors to the Territory increased by 17% in 1998-99.
I think they are figures that the industry can be proud of. Clearly they are the result of the excellent and aggressive marketing campaign of the Northern Territory Tourist Commission, together with the tourist associations across the Territory and the industry participants. Some of the most impressive increases have been recorded in the regions, generating local jobs and income. The Katherine region recorded the biggest increase in the Territory with a 42% hike in visitors, a 30% increase in expenditure and a 20% rise in visitor nights. That’s an excellent result, rebounding from the impact of the Katherine region floods last year. While last year there was a downturn in visitor numbers as a result of the floods, the increase of 42% put the Katherine region well ahead of where it had been before then.
Central Australia’s tourism industry, members from the southern part of the Territory will be pleased to hear, also performed strongly with visitor numbers up 14%, nights up 17%, and an 11% increase in expenditures.
The only region that did not record an increase was the Top End, with small drops in visitor numbers and nights of accommodation. However, expenditure was up by $30m or 2%. The decline in Top End figures was due to a drop in intra-Territory travel - Territorians spending a bit of time elsewhere in the Territory home. That was particularly noticeable and had more effect in the Top End because that is the major population base.
Aggressive marketing will continue. The biggest employer will continue to provide opportunities for business and employment in the Territory.
The member for Port Darwin also asked about convention centres. Opportunities will be expanded under government proposals to construct centres both here and in Alice Springs. With expressions of interest in those facilities having been called for, we eagerly await responses from the private sector so that they can be evaluated. That will key into the budget cycle for 2000-01, and again build on the opportunities for the tourism industry to attract more visitors to the Territory. It’s not just the participants in conventions, of course, who deliver a benefit to the tourism industry, but also the spouses and others who accompany the participants.
I think we can look forward with confidence to continued growth. We’ve got the Olympics next year. They’re going to give our tourism industry enormous international exposure. Some 800 journalists are already booked to come to the launch of the Olympics, the commencement of the Olympic torch travelling around Australia, at Ayers Rock. That is going to give us coverage that we would never be able to afford to buy, and we will be working very hard to maximise the benefits from it.
In addition there are some major programs in Europe, which is an excellent performer in terms of international visitors coming to the Northern Territory, and we will be seeking also to maximise on them.
The government’s policies are working well. They are delivering results. It’s a pity that the ALP don’t have a few policies to demonstrate to Territorians that they might be able to offer an alternative.
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr REED: The member for Arnhem interjects because that is their policy - to create havoc, to practise as much deceit as they can among Territorians, to put up a smokescreen to make it look as if they are generating some activity. The Opposition Leader goes on holidays and does not even participate in a process that seems to be dear to her heart in relation to planning. Her biggest priority since that last sittings has been holidays, not trying to work hard to develop policies. They have an Internet site that says: ‘We ain’t got no policies. One of these days we might be able to give you a look at a couple of graphs’. That may or may not happen before the next election.
Mrs HICKEY: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The Deputy Chief Minister is not being interjected upon at the moment, yet his voice is at a volume which would indicate he is addressing a football crowd. Perhaps he could lower the volume of his address.
Mr SPEAKER: There is no point of order, but the Minister for Tourism should confine his remarks to the question.
Mr REED: Central to the question is policy and what the government is doing. Contrast that with what the Labor Party is doing - nothing. That is why, of course, they don’t have policy direction and are not able to provide Territorians with alternatives. They’re a dreadfully embarrassing cauldron of incompetence. You can’t expect anything more of them. Every day, more and more transparently, we see their lack of policies, their incompetence and their inability to offer themselves as an alternative government, which is what their job really should be. It’s a pity they can’t get on with it.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the tourism industry is indeed the largest single employer in the Territory. It offers a solution to many of the problems that have been alluded to here today, through young Territorians being able to get jobs. If they get an education, there is an opportunity in the Northern Territory for them to go straight into employment or certainly into relevant training. It is a situation that does not exist in a lot of places in Australia, unfortunately.
The Territory tourism industry has rebounded from the slump that occurred over the last couple of years, not just here but nationally. That is a very encouraging sign. In fact, the Northern Territory Tourist Commission’s Travel Monitor indicates that total visitor numbers increased by 80 000 or 7% over 1997-98 with expenditure up by $58m or 8% - overall, a very good result for that period. The international market continued to grow, increasing by 10% or 40 000 over the previous year, and interstate visitors to the Territory increased by 17% in 1998-99.
I think they are figures that the industry can be proud of. Clearly they are the result of the excellent and aggressive marketing campaign of the Northern Territory Tourist Commission, together with the tourist associations across the Territory and the industry participants. Some of the most impressive increases have been recorded in the regions, generating local jobs and income. The Katherine region recorded the biggest increase in the Territory with a 42% hike in visitors, a 30% increase in expenditure and a 20% rise in visitor nights. That’s an excellent result, rebounding from the impact of the Katherine region floods last year. While last year there was a downturn in visitor numbers as a result of the floods, the increase of 42% put the Katherine region well ahead of where it had been before then.
Central Australia’s tourism industry, members from the southern part of the Territory will be pleased to hear, also performed strongly with visitor numbers up 14%, nights up 17%, and an 11% increase in expenditures.
The only region that did not record an increase was the Top End, with small drops in visitor numbers and nights of accommodation. However, expenditure was up by $30m or 2%. The decline in Top End figures was due to a drop in intra-Territory travel - Territorians spending a bit of time elsewhere in the Territory home. That was particularly noticeable and had more effect in the Top End because that is the major population base.
Aggressive marketing will continue. The biggest employer will continue to provide opportunities for business and employment in the Territory.
The member for Port Darwin also asked about convention centres. Opportunities will be expanded under government proposals to construct centres both here and in Alice Springs. With expressions of interest in those facilities having been called for, we eagerly await responses from the private sector so that they can be evaluated. That will key into the budget cycle for 2000-01, and again build on the opportunities for the tourism industry to attract more visitors to the Territory. It’s not just the participants in conventions, of course, who deliver a benefit to the tourism industry, but also the spouses and others who accompany the participants.
I think we can look forward with confidence to continued growth. We’ve got the Olympics next year. They’re going to give our tourism industry enormous international exposure. Some 800 journalists are already booked to come to the launch of the Olympics, the commencement of the Olympic torch travelling around Australia, at Ayers Rock. That is going to give us coverage that we would never be able to afford to buy, and we will be working very hard to maximise the benefits from it.
In addition there are some major programs in Europe, which is an excellent performer in terms of international visitors coming to the Northern Territory, and we will be seeking also to maximise on them.
The government’s policies are working well. They are delivering results. It’s a pity that the ALP don’t have a few policies to demonstrate to Territorians that they might be able to offer an alternative.
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr REED: The member for Arnhem interjects because that is their policy - to create havoc, to practise as much deceit as they can among Territorians, to put up a smokescreen to make it look as if they are generating some activity. The Opposition Leader goes on holidays and does not even participate in a process that seems to be dear to her heart in relation to planning. Her biggest priority since that last sittings has been holidays, not trying to work hard to develop policies. They have an Internet site that says: ‘We ain’t got no policies. One of these days we might be able to give you a look at a couple of graphs’. That may or may not happen before the next election.
Mrs HICKEY: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The Deputy Chief Minister is not being interjected upon at the moment, yet his voice is at a volume which would indicate he is addressing a football crowd. Perhaps he could lower the volume of his address.
Mr SPEAKER: There is no point of order, but the Minister for Tourism should confine his remarks to the question.
Mr REED: Central to the question is policy and what the government is doing. Contrast that with what the Labor Party is doing - nothing. That is why, of course, they don’t have policy direction and are not able to provide Territorians with alternatives. They’re a dreadfully embarrassing cauldron of incompetence. You can’t expect anything more of them. Every day, more and more transparently, we see their lack of policies, their incompetence and their inability to offer themselves as an alternative government, which is what their job really should be. It’s a pity they can’t get on with it.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016