Mr BALDWIN - 1996-10-15
Will the minister provide an update on the development of a strategy for the tourism drive market?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, members will be pleased to hear, and even the member for Barkly may be pleased to hear, about an initiative that was first proposed by the Tennant Creek Regional Tourist Association, although she does not appear to be too familiar with what it is doing. Given Tennant Creek's reliance on the self-drive market, the association suggested last year that a strategy be developed for the tourism drive market. Of course, 85% of visitors, irrespective of their method of arrival in the Northern Territory, use the roads for travel during their holiday in the Territory. The Tourist Commission, together with the Department of Transport and Works, embarked on a consultative process, talking to tourism associations and members of the industry across the Northern Territory to develop a strategy for the tourism drive market.
Mr Speaker, I table a strategy for the tourism drive market. This document has evolved from that consultative process. It is interesting that some people in Tennant Creek are innovators. The follower of the opposition, which is what she should be called rather than the Leader of the Opposition, does not have the capacity to lead, but clearly someone in Tennant Creek does and this is an example of that. The Tennant Creek Regional Tourist Association is an innovator, unlike the follower of the opposition who should be an innovator but does not have the capacity. The regional tourist associations and other groups met in Tennant Creek last year and pursued the issue, and this strategy has now been produced. The strategy adopts principles employed for a number of tourism routes elsewhere in Australia, such as the Great Ocean Road in Victoria and the Matilda Highway in Queensland.
The strategy outlines 3 tourism drives for the Territory under a unifying theme: the Stuart highway which will be referred to as the Explorer Highway; the Alice Springs/Ayers Rock/Kings Canyon/West MacDonnells route which will be known as the Pioneer Path; and the Arnhem/Kakadu/Stuart Highway trail which will be known as Nature's Way. Draft logos and themes have been produced and these will be used in motivational literature, maps and
Page 1689
promotional material to generate pre-visitor awareness of these routes so that people travelling them may be both more aware of the ...
Mr Ah Kit: Did you put this together or did Steve do it?
Mr REED: Clearly, many people have more interest in this than has the member for Arnhem. It is a sad reflection on members opposite that they do not have the capacity to listen to information that is being provided to them. This initiative came from the Tennant Creek Regional Tourist Association and it has been supported strongly by the tourism industry across the Territory. The member for Barkly does not have the capacity, either as follower or Leader of the Opposition, to control her members in this House and dissuade them from interjecting. People with an interest in the tourism industry, those who may be employed in the industry, have family employed in the tourism industry, or who may even be investors in the tourism industry in the Northern Territory should be allowed to hear information relating to this tourism strategy, but all members opposite can do is interrupt and interject. The member for Arnhem is able only to be negative. As soon as an initiative is brought forward, the reaction of
members opposite is negative and they try to can it. They are not canning me when they try to can this initiative. They are canning the tourism industry which developed this initiative, and it is a great shame that they are unable to show a little more appreciation for the efforts of that industry.
The material, the logos and the other information that will be produced in relation to this will be distributed to roadside inns and other appropriate outlets to provide information on the people, places, and events and general history of the local area. This should create a higher level of interest for travellers, not only about remote parts of the Territory, but to other areas with which we are more familiar. We hope we can provide them with information that will enhance their appreciation of their visit. The information and interpretation material will be adapted to form quiz or puzzle sheets and that will add some stimulus for adults and children alike as they drive across the Northern Territory. The information provided along the highways will refer to and complement associated initiatives in relation to the heritage trail program and the 4-x-4 explorer drive routes. They have been very successful, and I am sure that the tourism drive strategy will be also. It will assist those people in the
tourism industry, particularly in remote areas such as Tennant Creek, who have had the initiative, the drive and the enthusiasm to consider their position and take action to become more competitive with other parts of Australia. This initiative will put in place a strategy that will attract more visitors to their particular patch.
I compliment the Tennant Creek Regional Tourist Association on this initiative, and the members of the tourism industry across the Territory who have had such significant input to it. I hope the strategy will provide benefits to the industry in the future.
Page 1690
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, members will be pleased to hear, and even the member for Barkly may be pleased to hear, about an initiative that was first proposed by the Tennant Creek Regional Tourist Association, although she does not appear to be too familiar with what it is doing. Given Tennant Creek's reliance on the self-drive market, the association suggested last year that a strategy be developed for the tourism drive market. Of course, 85% of visitors, irrespective of their method of arrival in the Northern Territory, use the roads for travel during their holiday in the Territory. The Tourist Commission, together with the Department of Transport and Works, embarked on a consultative process, talking to tourism associations and members of the industry across the Northern Territory to develop a strategy for the tourism drive market.
Mr Speaker, I table a strategy for the tourism drive market. This document has evolved from that consultative process. It is interesting that some people in Tennant Creek are innovators. The follower of the opposition, which is what she should be called rather than the Leader of the Opposition, does not have the capacity to lead, but clearly someone in Tennant Creek does and this is an example of that. The Tennant Creek Regional Tourist Association is an innovator, unlike the follower of the opposition who should be an innovator but does not have the capacity. The regional tourist associations and other groups met in Tennant Creek last year and pursued the issue, and this strategy has now been produced. The strategy adopts principles employed for a number of tourism routes elsewhere in Australia, such as the Great Ocean Road in Victoria and the Matilda Highway in Queensland.
The strategy outlines 3 tourism drives for the Territory under a unifying theme: the Stuart highway which will be referred to as the Explorer Highway; the Alice Springs/Ayers Rock/Kings Canyon/West MacDonnells route which will be known as the Pioneer Path; and the Arnhem/Kakadu/Stuart Highway trail which will be known as Nature's Way. Draft logos and themes have been produced and these will be used in motivational literature, maps and
Page 1689
promotional material to generate pre-visitor awareness of these routes so that people travelling them may be both more aware of the ...
Mr Ah Kit: Did you put this together or did Steve do it?
Mr REED: Clearly, many people have more interest in this than has the member for Arnhem. It is a sad reflection on members opposite that they do not have the capacity to listen to information that is being provided to them. This initiative came from the Tennant Creek Regional Tourist Association and it has been supported strongly by the tourism industry across the Territory. The member for Barkly does not have the capacity, either as follower or Leader of the Opposition, to control her members in this House and dissuade them from interjecting. People with an interest in the tourism industry, those who may be employed in the industry, have family employed in the tourism industry, or who may even be investors in the tourism industry in the Northern Territory should be allowed to hear information relating to this tourism strategy, but all members opposite can do is interrupt and interject. The member for Arnhem is able only to be negative. As soon as an initiative is brought forward, the reaction of
members opposite is negative and they try to can it. They are not canning me when they try to can this initiative. They are canning the tourism industry which developed this initiative, and it is a great shame that they are unable to show a little more appreciation for the efforts of that industry.
The material, the logos and the other information that will be produced in relation to this will be distributed to roadside inns and other appropriate outlets to provide information on the people, places, and events and general history of the local area. This should create a higher level of interest for travellers, not only about remote parts of the Territory, but to other areas with which we are more familiar. We hope we can provide them with information that will enhance their appreciation of their visit. The information and interpretation material will be adapted to form quiz or puzzle sheets and that will add some stimulus for adults and children alike as they drive across the Northern Territory. The information provided along the highways will refer to and complement associated initiatives in relation to the heritage trail program and the 4-x-4 explorer drive routes. They have been very successful, and I am sure that the tourism drive strategy will be also. It will assist those people in the
tourism industry, particularly in remote areas such as Tennant Creek, who have had the initiative, the drive and the enthusiasm to consider their position and take action to become more competitive with other parts of Australia. This initiative will put in place a strategy that will attract more visitors to their particular patch.
I compliment the Tennant Creek Regional Tourist Association on this initiative, and the members of the tourism industry across the Territory who have had such significant input to it. I hope the strategy will provide benefits to the industry in the future.
Page 1690
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016