Ms CARNEY - 2003-06-17
In March 2002, 10 284 people visited Tourism Top End Visitor Centres. In March this year, prior to SARS, that number crashed to 3533. In May 2002, 15 750 people visited Tourism Top End Visitor Centres. Last month, that figure was only 8667 people.
Today you informed us that the Arafura Rescue Package is having a significant impact in terms of attracting visitors to the Northern Territory, even though the package has only resulted in an extra 200 holidays, which is hardly significant. Since you believe that the $200 voucher system is attracting tourists to the Northern Territory, why will you not extend it for another six months, and to other regional centres in the Territory, in an attempt to counter the problems that the industry is currently experiencing?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. There is no doubt that the figures from Tourism Top End point to a very significant decrease in tourism numbers to the Top End. Everyone is aware of that. The briefing and advice I am given by the Tourist Commission is that it is nowhere near the 50% or 60% that has been flagged. There is no doubt that there is probably a 15% to 20% decrease in tourism numbers to the Top End. I have a list of statistics that I can give the member for Araluen. It appears, though, that those who are coming are fewer in number but are spending more, and that is encouraging.
In regard to extending the voucher system, I did say this morning in my ministerial report that the reason we were not extending it is that we are coming into the peak tourism season anyway. I had a meeting with members of the tourism industry when the Arafura Games were cancelled - we had a crisis meeting, if you like; it certainly was a crisis situation – and that was the advice they gave me. They indicated that they wanted a voucher system, incentives, and joint marketing with airlines during in the May and June period to cover the time that the Arafura Games participants would not be coming. That was the wish of the industry, member for Araluen. I heeded their advice and I heed the advice of the department.
I am prepared to look at any scheme that increases tourism numbers into the Territory; the Top End in particular, and Central Australia. My advice is that joint marketing campaigns are a very important way to go.
I am at a bit of a loss to understand - in one breath you are saying the voucher system is not working, and the next thing you are telling me to extend it. I am having a problem, member for Araluen, finding out exactly where you stand on the voucher system. I am someone who takes advice from the industry and the Tourist Commission. I am quite confident that the voucher system that we have operated has been successful, particularly in attracting those who were going to be participants in the Arafura Games. What you omitted to say was that there were over 600 of those people who have taken up the $200 voucher system. That is very encouraging. I do not think you should be belittling it, member for Araluen, or talking it down. That is significant. That is what the tourism operators, the hoteliers in this town, and the small operators, wanted. They wanted a definable system, a voucher system with incentives, and they wanted joint marketing. That is what I gave them. We will continue to work strategically to build tourism in the Northern Territory.
Today you informed us that the Arafura Rescue Package is having a significant impact in terms of attracting visitors to the Northern Territory, even though the package has only resulted in an extra 200 holidays, which is hardly significant. Since you believe that the $200 voucher system is attracting tourists to the Northern Territory, why will you not extend it for another six months, and to other regional centres in the Territory, in an attempt to counter the problems that the industry is currently experiencing?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. There is no doubt that the figures from Tourism Top End point to a very significant decrease in tourism numbers to the Top End. Everyone is aware of that. The briefing and advice I am given by the Tourist Commission is that it is nowhere near the 50% or 60% that has been flagged. There is no doubt that there is probably a 15% to 20% decrease in tourism numbers to the Top End. I have a list of statistics that I can give the member for Araluen. It appears, though, that those who are coming are fewer in number but are spending more, and that is encouraging.
In regard to extending the voucher system, I did say this morning in my ministerial report that the reason we were not extending it is that we are coming into the peak tourism season anyway. I had a meeting with members of the tourism industry when the Arafura Games were cancelled - we had a crisis meeting, if you like; it certainly was a crisis situation – and that was the advice they gave me. They indicated that they wanted a voucher system, incentives, and joint marketing with airlines during in the May and June period to cover the time that the Arafura Games participants would not be coming. That was the wish of the industry, member for Araluen. I heeded their advice and I heed the advice of the department.
I am prepared to look at any scheme that increases tourism numbers into the Territory; the Top End in particular, and Central Australia. My advice is that joint marketing campaigns are a very important way to go.
I am at a bit of a loss to understand - in one breath you are saying the voucher system is not working, and the next thing you are telling me to extend it. I am having a problem, member for Araluen, finding out exactly where you stand on the voucher system. I am someone who takes advice from the industry and the Tourist Commission. I am quite confident that the voucher system that we have operated has been successful, particularly in attracting those who were going to be participants in the Arafura Games. What you omitted to say was that there were over 600 of those people who have taken up the $200 voucher system. That is very encouraging. I do not think you should be belittling it, member for Araluen, or talking it down. That is significant. That is what the tourism operators, the hoteliers in this town, and the small operators, wanted. They wanted a definable system, a voucher system with incentives, and they wanted joint marketing. That is what I gave them. We will continue to work strategically to build tourism in the Northern Territory.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016