Mr BALCH - 2001-02-28
We are aware that the recent flooding is contained to specific areas of the Territory, but often people, especially tourists, have a different impression from the southern media. Have you taken any action to ensure potential visitors to the Territory are aware that, by and large, our tourism industry is unaffected by the floods and that we are still open for business?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his interest in this matter. It is important. Whilst there have been many Territorians who have been affected by the flooding, and our sympathies lie with them, there are also many Territorians who have the potential to be affected by flooding in an indirect way. That is by fewer tourists coming to the Top End because of the television footage, the news items, and the reports they have received through the media showing details of the floods, creating the perception in their minds it is no good going to the Top End of the Northern Territory for a holiday this year because it is either inaccessible or the services have been washed away.
We are drawing on the experiences of the Katherine floods and other events, which is very much the experience we had in 1998. We wish to ensure that people in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide - wherever they may be living in Australia - who are planning their holidays for this year do not exclude the Top End of the Northern Territory. Consequently, advertisements started on 25 February. On Saturday 3 March, promotions directed towards the Top End will appear in the print media. Similarly, additional promotions will appear in the Sunday papers on 4 March in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide to boost the exposure of the Top End in the print media to the value of some $32 000.
The advertisements encourage consumers to talk to a Territorian. I table a copy of the advertisements. They show the Top End in all its glory, the places to go, and there is some other advocacy of the Top End in terms of a tourist destination. There is the NT Holiday Centre - ‘Talk to a Territorian’. When people phone they will either be connected to someone in the centre at Alice Springs or the satellite centre in Darwin. They will receive direct advice about having a holiday in the Northern Territory. This will maximise the opportunities of having a good tourism industry.
It not only applies to Darwin, Kakadu and Katherine. It also applies to destinations such as Mataranka, Timber Creek, Borroloola and the Daly River. These are places that people from around the country enjoy to visit. This promotion is a demonstration of the proactiveness of government and the Tourist Commission in ensuring we have the ability to attract more people.
To reinforce that, in Brisbane on 5 March the ‘Territory Muster’ commences. Fourteen Top End-based operators, as well as five national operators and representatives of tourist associations from across the Northern Territory, will be visiting Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth over a 10-day period to promote the Northern Territory as a holiday destination. During the course of those visits, they will also have the opportunity to do radio interviews, to appear in the media, and to provide backup promotional activity for the Northern Territory. We will be lending support to that activity as well, and we will be maximising every chance that we can muster to make sure that the Territory Muster is successful. We will be mustering as many Australians as possible to the Northern Territory and the Top End for a holiday this year.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his interest in this matter. It is important. Whilst there have been many Territorians who have been affected by the flooding, and our sympathies lie with them, there are also many Territorians who have the potential to be affected by flooding in an indirect way. That is by fewer tourists coming to the Top End because of the television footage, the news items, and the reports they have received through the media showing details of the floods, creating the perception in their minds it is no good going to the Top End of the Northern Territory for a holiday this year because it is either inaccessible or the services have been washed away.
We are drawing on the experiences of the Katherine floods and other events, which is very much the experience we had in 1998. We wish to ensure that people in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide - wherever they may be living in Australia - who are planning their holidays for this year do not exclude the Top End of the Northern Territory. Consequently, advertisements started on 25 February. On Saturday 3 March, promotions directed towards the Top End will appear in the print media. Similarly, additional promotions will appear in the Sunday papers on 4 March in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide to boost the exposure of the Top End in the print media to the value of some $32 000.
The advertisements encourage consumers to talk to a Territorian. I table a copy of the advertisements. They show the Top End in all its glory, the places to go, and there is some other advocacy of the Top End in terms of a tourist destination. There is the NT Holiday Centre - ‘Talk to a Territorian’. When people phone they will either be connected to someone in the centre at Alice Springs or the satellite centre in Darwin. They will receive direct advice about having a holiday in the Northern Territory. This will maximise the opportunities of having a good tourism industry.
It not only applies to Darwin, Kakadu and Katherine. It also applies to destinations such as Mataranka, Timber Creek, Borroloola and the Daly River. These are places that people from around the country enjoy to visit. This promotion is a demonstration of the proactiveness of government and the Tourist Commission in ensuring we have the ability to attract more people.
To reinforce that, in Brisbane on 5 March the ‘Territory Muster’ commences. Fourteen Top End-based operators, as well as five national operators and representatives of tourist associations from across the Northern Territory, will be visiting Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth over a 10-day period to promote the Northern Territory as a holiday destination. During the course of those visits, they will also have the opportunity to do radio interviews, to appear in the media, and to provide backup promotional activity for the Northern Territory. We will be lending support to that activity as well, and we will be maximising every chance that we can muster to make sure that the Territory Muster is successful. We will be mustering as many Australians as possible to the Northern Territory and the Top End for a holiday this year.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016