Ms LAWRIE - 2003-08-14
Madam Speaker, I know this question is dear to your heart - the arrival of charter flights from Japan into Central Australia. Indeed, it is very good news for our tourism industry. Minister, can you please inform the House about the success of this venture, and the economic benefits it has brought to the Central Australian region?
Madam SPEAKER: I apologise, minister. I could not help my enthusiasm.
ANSWER
That is all right, Madam Speaker. You foreshadowed a very important issue. We have had three charters, and they have been through the very hard work of the Northern Territory Tourist Commission, Mr Richard Doyle in particular, and I commend their efforts.
As most members would know, over the last week there have been three charters from Japan arrive into Central Australia - 737s each carrying about 220 people. All but one of those charters was completely full. I believe the one that was not full only had about five empty seats. The Japanese wholesalers are very happy about it, and already they are talking about further charters into Central Australia.
The Northern Territory Tourist Commission contributed $100 000 for cooperative marketing for these flights. The Australian Tourism Commission also put in $100 000, a Japanese wholesaler, HIS, put in $14 000, and Kintetsu, who are the main wholesaler, contributed $312 500 to the cooperative marketing. Once again, I mention the Northern Territory Tourist Commission, where staff undertook a familiarisation visit with the Managing Director of Kintetsu, who visited the Northern Territory earlier this year. They took him to Uluru and other places.
Most of the people who came to Central Australia in the charter have had three nights in Central Australia. Some of them spent one night in Alice, one night in Uluru and the other night in Kings Canyon, and there are many different permutations and combinations of that. I am sure they are going to go back and tell their friends and family back in Japan what a fantastic destination it is. At a monetary level, it is estimated these visitors injected over $1.2m into the Central Australian economy.
These charters are very important. I had the opportunity to meet with senior Qantas executives last night. Not only did I suggest to them that we put on a few extra flights from Singapore to Darwin, I also suggested that these charters are certainly the way to go, because it is Qantas planes that are really running the charters. I believe this has been very successful; it is the way of the future. The Japanese market is very important for us, and I look forward to developing that market further.
Madam SPEAKER: I apologise, minister. I could not help my enthusiasm.
ANSWER
That is all right, Madam Speaker. You foreshadowed a very important issue. We have had three charters, and they have been through the very hard work of the Northern Territory Tourist Commission, Mr Richard Doyle in particular, and I commend their efforts.
As most members would know, over the last week there have been three charters from Japan arrive into Central Australia - 737s each carrying about 220 people. All but one of those charters was completely full. I believe the one that was not full only had about five empty seats. The Japanese wholesalers are very happy about it, and already they are talking about further charters into Central Australia.
The Northern Territory Tourist Commission contributed $100 000 for cooperative marketing for these flights. The Australian Tourism Commission also put in $100 000, a Japanese wholesaler, HIS, put in $14 000, and Kintetsu, who are the main wholesaler, contributed $312 500 to the cooperative marketing. Once again, I mention the Northern Territory Tourist Commission, where staff undertook a familiarisation visit with the Managing Director of Kintetsu, who visited the Northern Territory earlier this year. They took him to Uluru and other places.
Most of the people who came to Central Australia in the charter have had three nights in Central Australia. Some of them spent one night in Alice, one night in Uluru and the other night in Kings Canyon, and there are many different permutations and combinations of that. I am sure they are going to go back and tell their friends and family back in Japan what a fantastic destination it is. At a monetary level, it is estimated these visitors injected over $1.2m into the Central Australian economy.
These charters are very important. I had the opportunity to meet with senior Qantas executives last night. Not only did I suggest to them that we put on a few extra flights from Singapore to Darwin, I also suggested that these charters are certainly the way to go, because it is Qantas planes that are really running the charters. I believe this has been very successful; it is the way of the future. The Japanese market is very important for us, and I look forward to developing that market further.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016