A Northern Territory Tourism Investment Forum is taking place at the Darwin Convention Centre today as part of the Arafura Games 2019 Business Engagement Program. The forum will include a roundtable, networking opportunities and site visits. Delegates will receive valuable insights into the Territory’s long-term tourism opportunities, including the NT Government’s 2030 tourism industry development strategy, the Darwin City Deal, the Jabiru Township Redevelopment Project and the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park.
The NT Government is investing in the tourism sector through a significant program of tourism-related infrastructure projects, as well as its Turbocharging Tourism and Turbo 2 initiatives. This includes $56.24 million for new and upgraded facilities in Territory parks and reserves.
The $200 million Darwin City Deal, a joint investment from the NT Government and the Federal Government, is supporting a raft of initiatives including a new art gallery in State Square and the transformation of public spaces in the CBD, to create a greener, cooler, more appealing city.
Delegates at the Tourism Investment Forum include investment decision makers, advisers and industry representatives including owners, lawyers, lenders, developers and investment bankers.
Tourism is a cornerstone of the Territory economy, supporting more than 1300 small and medium-sized businesses, and 16,300 direct and indirect jobs – some 12 per cent of total NT employment. It contributes 9 per cent to our Gross State Product (GSP).
Quotes from Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture, Andrew Hopper:
“The Arafura Games are a great opportunity for us to build relationships with our Asia-Pacific neighbours. The Business Engagement Program in particular is a chance for us to promote trade and investment opportunities in the Territory.
“Through the Northern Territory Tourism Investment Forum we can encourage international and national investment in our tourism sector, raise the profile of our unique assets, and highlight the fact we are closer to the fast-growing outbound travel markets of Asia than any other Australian capital city.
“The latest Tourism Research Australia figures show visitors from Greater China increased by 55 per cent on the last quarter, bringing the total visitors for the 2018 calendar year to 27,000.
“With Japan numbers increasing 56 per cent for the same period, both Greater China and Japan are our highest growing international markets.
“These figures also indicate that the Government’s Turbocharging Tourism stimulus is working.
“We have exceeded the holiday visitor target with 57,000 extra holiday bookings, injecting an estimated $70 million-plus into the economy. These are holiday visitors that are coming to the Territory as a direct result of the Turbocharging Tourism investment.”
Quotes from National Head of Indigenous Business at Westpac, Suzi Hullick:
“Forums like this, that inform industry, stimulate conversation and discussion, and help with networking, are a good place for us to be.
“This event is a great step forward that will help us understand the tourism landscape and government initiatives, and how we can leverage those initiatives to help people in the industry create and innovate.”
Media contact: Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture Media Manager 0428 052 647