Sixteen front-line travel agents from JTB World Vacations, the largest Japanese travel wholesaler, have experienced some of the best Top End tourist sites and attractions in readiness for the forthcoming JTB Charter Flight program commencing in the NT later this year.

Travelling as guests of the Department of Tourism and Culture, the Top End Familiarisation tour ran from Sunday 22 to Wednesday 25 April, and took the JTB travel agents on a quintessential Top End experience to spotlight the region’s compelling tourism attractions.

Department of Tourism and Culture Acting Deputy CEO Mr Andrew Hopper said the Top End Familiarisation Tour was an important initiative to build the profile of the Top End’s tourism offerings to ensure the success of the JTB Charter Flight Program.

“Currently 94 per cent of Japanese holiday makers visit Uluru, and this charter is an important vehicle to encourage Japanese dispersal into the Top End,” said Mr Hopper.

“The success of this charter program will encourage other Japanese wholesalers and agencies to sell the Top End, as well as the Red Centre.

“The Japanese visitor market is the NT’s fourth largest tourism market, and is extremely important to the NT economy. This partnership with JTB is expected to be worth an estimated $1 million in visitor spend to the NT.”

The guests enjoyed a Darwin City Sights tour, sunset dinner cruise with Darwin Harbour Cruises, a tour of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Crocosaurus Cove, the spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise on the Adelaide River and lunch at Corroboree Park Tavern.

The Japanese speaking guided tour also escorted the travel agents to our famous Kakadu National Park, visiting the Mercure Crocodile Hotel and Cooinda Lodge, with tours of Ubirr and Nourlangie rock art sites, a sunset trip on the Yellow Water Cruise and a visit to the Mamakula Wetlands.

The first charter flight is scheduled to arrive in Darwin on 11 August 2018 onboard a Qantas A330, with 269 economy passengers and 28 business class passengers.

Most tours will be in the NT for three nights or more, with 1,870 NT visitors nights generated and will visit Darwin, Kakadu National Park, Alice Springs and Uluru.

Tourism NT, together with JTB World Vacations, will run a co-operative marketing campaign to promote the charter flight to the Northern Territory via print, digital and social media channels.

Media contact - Department of Tourism and Culture - 0428 052 647