Northern Territory tourism operators have hit the road to target birding enthusiasts at the annual UK Birdfair.

Held annually, the British Birdwatching Fair runs from 18 to 20 August and is the largest bird fair in the world attracting more than 25,000 people and over 300 exhibitors.

The Northern Territory is a magnet for birding and nature enthusiasts and our involvement in the UK Birdfair helps to attract visitors to the NT and ensure that our destination is kept at front of mind within this niche tourism market.

Department of Tourism and Culture’s CEO Alastair Shields said he was pleased to see that our local birding tour operators, Luke Paterson from NT Bird Specialists, Mick Jerram from Gecko Canoeing & Trekking and Mark Carter from Birding and Wildlife would attend the exhibition, to represent the Northern Territory, and present as guest speakers at various Birdfair events.

“The Northern Territory is a must-do holiday destination and bird watching paradise.

"The United Kingdom is the Northern Territory’s largest international source market with 41,000 holiday visitors to the Territory last year and this exhibition will help promote the NT as a leading holiday destination in a key market,” Mr Shields said.

As a sponsor of the event, the Territory will be promoted on all event promotional material and posters, and will feature on the Birdfair website, birdfair.org.uk as well within the Bird Fair programme.

The Northern Territory is home to more than 400 species of birds, many of which are unique to the NT including the White-throated Grasswren, Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon and the Banded Fruit-dove.

"This event is well timed to promote the upcoming Red Centre Bird Festival which is on from 20-24 September, as well as Kakadu Bird Week, happening from 1-7 October this year encouraging special interest visitors to stay longer, spend more and disperse deeper through the destination they are visiting,” said Mr Shields.

Mr Shields said Tourism NT has worked on developing a suite of bird watching experiences and marketing opportunities to benefit the whole of the Territory with a new Birding Trails Northern Territory website www.northernterritory.com/birding featuring birding events, tours and holidays, as well as NT bird species listing by habitat. The website is in its infancy and will be regularly updated as an ongoing project to ensure the most accurate information is provided to consumers.

Birding Trails pocket guides are also being developed with the first Darwin guide available now at Tourism Top End and Darwin City Council as well as on the website with an Alice Springs and surrounds pocket guide in the planning stages.

Media Contact: Department of Tourism and Culture – 0428 052 647