Tourism NT, through the NT Convention Bureau (NTCB), is hosting a group of business event planners from China in Darwin and Alice Springs from 12 June – 16 June.
The ‘Discover Darwin’ showcase is a partnership between the NTCB and SilkAir designed to attract more business events from China to the Top End and Central Australia.
The five delegates are key business events representatives from the Chinese Meetings Incentives Conferences Exhibitions (MICE) industry in Shanghai and Beijing.
Tourism NT CEO, Tony Mayell, said that partnering with SilkAir was an opportunity to demonstrate how accessible the NT is from mainland China via the extensive Singapore Airlines network.
“SilkAir is a world-class, full service carrier with a strong network through China and we are delighted to be teaming up with them on this initiative,” he said.
“The Chinese business events delegates on this showcase all represent well established event organisers with a strong potential to influence clients to bring their business events to the NT.”
The showcase will introduce the business event planners to Darwin and Alice Springs and the first-class facilities and unique experiences on offer in the Territory for conferences and meetings.
“The partnership will help to reiterate that Darwin is the Gateway to Asia and how easy it is to connect from China to Darwin via Singapore and onto Alice Springs,” said Mr Mayell.
“Business events are worth an estimated $70 million a year to the NT economy so giving key event planners a first-hand experience of our unique experiences is crucial to ensure they choose the Northern Territory for their next conference.”
The Chinese delegation will look at relevant hotels and venues that match their conference needs ranging from SkyCity Darwin, the Hilton, Adina and Vibe hotels, Darwin Convention Centre and Lasseters Hotel and Alice Springs Convention Centre.
The group will also take in some of Darwin and Alice Spring’s popular tourism attractions and experiences including the Mindil Beach Markets, a segway tour of the George Brown Botanic Gardens, Outback Floatplanes, a scenic flight over Darwin, a hot air balloon flight over the West MacDonnell Ranges, the Alice Springs Desert Park and more.
China is Australia’s fastest growing tourism market with visitors from China generating $8.3 billion in total expenditure in 2015. Last year, visitors from Greater China to the NT were estimated at 13,000 with the Northern Territory Government’s vision to grow this to 30,000 visitors by 2020.
The Northern Territory Government is currently stepping up its efforts in China with work continuing to attract a direct air service from China to Darwin to help reach our Tourism Vision target of 30,000 Chinese visitors to the NT by 2020.
For more information on the NTCB go to: http://www.meetthent.com.au
Photos attached: Chinese delegation at the Darwin Convention Centre
ENDS
Media Contact: Lisa Andrews, Corporate Media and Communications Manager +61 401 115 634
