Mr McADAM - 2005-02-15
Last week, for the first time, the Northern Territory hosted the Australian Tourism Awards. Can you give the House an update on this prestigious event?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. It was a spectacular event last Friday night in Alice Springs. It was the first time that the Australian Tourism Awards had been held in the Territory. As soon as we can get the convention centre built in Darwin we are certainly putting our hands up for the next one to be held in Darwin.
It was a full house, with 700 people present. There were interstate and local guests, including the federal Minister for Tourism, Fran Bailey, state and territory ministers for Tourism, and chairpersons of state and territory tourist commissions and offices and equivalents. Importantly, there were key tourism industry people present.
With all those visitors to Alice Springs, the impact on the economy was assessed to be approximately $250 000 – good for Alice Springs for a weekend – and many of those who came to visit actually stayed extra days. There were entrants in the awards who, from the stage were talking about having gone to the Centre a number of days before and having enjoyed their tourism experiences.
And we did well, Madam Speaker. I congratulate Vicki Spence from the Chamber of Commerce, and Linda Deans for an extraordinary and very professional effort. It was lovely to hear comments from people who said they had been to every tourism award and this had to be the best as it was done beautifully and professionally; and they certainly enjoyed the evening. Charlie King and Jonathon Uptin were terrific as Masters of Ceremony.
The Territory received two national awards, and we are very proud of those. The first was to Voyages Hotels and Resorts for their Desert Gardens Hotel which won the Deluxe Accommodation Category. Voyages is well-deserving of that award. The one that received the biggest cheer …
Dr Toyne: Yes!
Ms MARTIN: A little self-interest to my right! … the Finke Desert Race was recognised with an Encouragement Award in the Significant Festivals and Events Category. There were those who said: ‘We have been robbed; we have been robbed’ …
Mr Elferink: I did not see you racing, Paul.
Ms MARTIN: However, we found out that …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Macdonnell! Sorry, Chief Minister, cease for a moment. You know the rules, particularly the rule about calling people – even in asides – by their Christian name. It is a warning!
Ms MARTIN: The assessment was that if you received an encouragement award like that, you probably are only half or one point behind the winner, so what a tremendous achievement for the Finke Desert Race. There was a table of supporters there and there were screams, yells and howls of delight. It was fantastic.
It was a night of nights for Territory tourism. Tourism is the winner from the Australian Tourism Awards but, for 2005, the Territory did very well.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. It was a spectacular event last Friday night in Alice Springs. It was the first time that the Australian Tourism Awards had been held in the Territory. As soon as we can get the convention centre built in Darwin we are certainly putting our hands up for the next one to be held in Darwin.
It was a full house, with 700 people present. There were interstate and local guests, including the federal Minister for Tourism, Fran Bailey, state and territory ministers for Tourism, and chairpersons of state and territory tourist commissions and offices and equivalents. Importantly, there were key tourism industry people present.
With all those visitors to Alice Springs, the impact on the economy was assessed to be approximately $250 000 – good for Alice Springs for a weekend – and many of those who came to visit actually stayed extra days. There were entrants in the awards who, from the stage were talking about having gone to the Centre a number of days before and having enjoyed their tourism experiences.
And we did well, Madam Speaker. I congratulate Vicki Spence from the Chamber of Commerce, and Linda Deans for an extraordinary and very professional effort. It was lovely to hear comments from people who said they had been to every tourism award and this had to be the best as it was done beautifully and professionally; and they certainly enjoyed the evening. Charlie King and Jonathon Uptin were terrific as Masters of Ceremony.
The Territory received two national awards, and we are very proud of those. The first was to Voyages Hotels and Resorts for their Desert Gardens Hotel which won the Deluxe Accommodation Category. Voyages is well-deserving of that award. The one that received the biggest cheer …
Dr Toyne: Yes!
Ms MARTIN: A little self-interest to my right! … the Finke Desert Race was recognised with an Encouragement Award in the Significant Festivals and Events Category. There were those who said: ‘We have been robbed; we have been robbed’ …
Mr Elferink: I did not see you racing, Paul.
Ms MARTIN: However, we found out that …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Macdonnell! Sorry, Chief Minister, cease for a moment. You know the rules, particularly the rule about calling people – even in asides – by their Christian name. It is a warning!
Ms MARTIN: The assessment was that if you received an encouragement award like that, you probably are only half or one point behind the winner, so what a tremendous achievement for the Finke Desert Race. There was a table of supporters there and there were screams, yells and howls of delight. It was fantastic.
It was a night of nights for Territory tourism. Tourism is the winner from the Australian Tourism Awards but, for 2005, the Territory did very well.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016