The Northern Territory town of Alice Springs, which has been at the centre of a publicity firestorm surrounding youth crime, is reportedly having an extremely quiet start to the tourism season.
According to Tourism NT’s Alice Springs and MacDonnell Ranges region annual report card, visitor numbers to Alice Springs were down 44% on June 2019 levels in the year ending June 2022.
Tourism Central Australia chief executive Danial Rochford told the NT News that the visitor figures it had for March 2023 were down 30% on 2019 numbers.
“There has been a lot of concern. It’s been a very quiet March season,” he said. “But we are ever hopeful it will pick up as it progresses, we need to remain optimistic.”
Visitor numbers look to be dipping this year in Alice Springs. PIC: Grungly / Pixabay
Mr Rochford told the NT News there were a number of factors behind the decrease, describing the situation as a ‘confluence of headwinds’.
“It’s the national media attention, the rising cost of living, the rising cost of fuel which is, again, cost of living, and then you’ve also got an increase in outbound visitation with the end of Covid-19,” he said.
Angkerle Atwatye/Standley Chasm general manager, Nova Pomare, told the NT News she was concerned about the start to the season after a number of booking cancellations last week.
“We had a lot of cancellations, I was just worrying about keeping people employed,” she said.
However, the Easter weekend did see a lot of visitors at the natural attraction, about 35 minutes from Alice Spring.
Ms Pomare says she had been concerned that negative media attention on Alice Springs would impact visitor numbers, but was hopeful the season would pick up.
“People are still coming, it’s just a bit unpredictable,” she told the NT News. “We’re going with the flow.”
Despite the less than positive start to this season, it seems the numbers are still picking up compared to what they were in 2021, when there was a lot more uncertainty around the pandemic.
Last week, the Northern Territory government announced 2022 tourism figures.
For Central Australia, it said domestic holiday travel increased 21% for the year ending December 2022 compared to 2021.
Tourism Minister Nicole Manison said every region in the Northern Territory recorded an increase in visitors in 2022. And she said she was confident the return of international travellers would provide a further boost.
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With the theft, violence and vandalism, NT is last on my list
And the Labor party is responsible for the lot. The present government is criminal in handling the current situation. I lived there in good times, not any more. I hope it can be sorted out, but not holding my breath.
Pretty sure this problem existed before the labor party came into power Mate!
Not even close to what it is now!!
Pretty sure it was nothing as bad as it is now.
seriously, the problem is a lot more complicated than, blaming one poliitical party.
Good thing about Alice Springs is the view in the mirror
We live in Darwin and will not be visiting or taking our car, caravan/camper and family to Alice Springs any time soon. The place has deteriorated and public safety and the security of your belongings cannot be guaranteed. NT Gov should be sacked for ignoring the ply of the hard working taxpayers of Alice Springs. Millions of $ continue to be wasted on band-aid solutions and political spin.
From our experiance, we would say the same thing about Darwin
It is the FEAR! The fear of violence, the fear of theft, the fear of rioting and looting and worse….I’m so glad we went before all this erupted….all visitors feel the same intimidation….control your youth…..control you tourism…simple
Luckily we went there in better times.
We won’t be going back any time soon.
We’re going through there. No plans to stop.
Watch for “falling” stones as you do though
Under no circumstances would I venture to the NT for a holiday and put my wife or myself at risk of assault, theft or any other socially unacceptable behaviour.
The NT is definitely off our list.
I’ve always wanted to visit Alice Springs but……….. seeing the crime and murders, yes, murders I wouldn’t go anywhere near it. The media aren’t reporting the true extent of what’s happening there with local Facebook groups being muted it’s not fully understood the amount of abuse that’s happening by the indigenous towards visitors and residents let alone what they’re doing to each other. My partner worked for a law firm there for years and the horror stories of true crime means I’ll never set foot in that place or other townships around that area right up into Darwin… it’s a huge no from me.
Was there for four days last September amongst stolen cars into trees, smashed windows, screeching tyres, kids in groups throwing rocks and adults lining up for cartons of beer and yelling and screaming. We are on our way soon to Darwin and we are not planning on stopping in Alice, we are hoping we won’t get a rock thrown at us just doing that. I have never felt so unsafe anyway!
No better anywhere in the territory I’m afraid!
A story from the ABC, telling us, one youth is being ‘hard done by’…..https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-12/nt-raising-age-of-criminal-responsibility-delay-questioned/102198822
It appears, too often with the ABC, they side with the criminal.
The article refers to cost of living, fuel prices, outbound visitation for the lack of tourism. The feedback below refers to theft, violence, public safety. Seems like once the bureaucracy need to get their head out of the sand and acknowledge the reality before they can fix the problem.
We visit family yearly for a month or two..not going this year due to increase in violence..was noticeably getting worse last year
I have a trip planned for September. It will be interesting to see for myself how much the town has changed.
Two chances of us visiting Alice and most of NT this year and there both not good.
Visited Alice and district in 2022, it is very sad that the crime has everyone on hi alert. We experienced a welcome to country at 3am trying to break into our caravan whilst we were asleep, no excuse for government not to provide a safe environment for law abiding people.
We will never be back.
We were planning a caravan trip from Adelaide to Darwin and return for the near future. I can’t see how we can manage it without stopping in Alice, Tennant or Katherine, so we will look at Adelaide to Perth and return. The NT is a no go zone at the moment due to the feral activity up there.
Went there 20 years ago. I will go back. I am wondering whether the NT’s park pass will have an impact on tourism.
With Alice Springs rated the 15th worst destination in the world to visit, it is little wonder visitor numbers are down. Even now the NT Government are “fudging” actual numbers. With Sky News unlike other national media outlets not afraid to broadcast the crime situation etc as it is not only in Alice Springs, but also the rest of the NT , it is little wonder grey nomads and overseas travellers are deterred from visiting the Territory. The Federal Government because of their preoccupation with the “Voice” have washed their hands of the entire situation in the NT.
sky news is biased and one eyed,, really can you trust Murdoch, after the lies the told in the USA, Statistics can be fudged.
So, who do you suggest would give us an unbiased report? The ABC?
sbs fir example
We are doing Kings Canyon, but no way will I putting a 12 year-old autistic grandchild through what waits further up. Nervous enough about the canyon and uluru.
We had planned to pass through Alice 4 times over an 8 week holiday, but we were already feeling nervous when advised by a resident to stay away due to the extreme level of crime. We have decided to travel elsewhere in the NT.
Ready to retire and set up to do the lap
Postponing it till things are sorted
Spending my money overseas instead
To many horror stories from returned travellers
Check water tanks and trailer connections after every stop
We spent 6 nights at Alice Springs at the end of march 2023 and had no problems
Where did you stay and what did you do?
Hi
Are other areas safe to visit? Kings Canyon, Standly Chasm, Tennant Creek etc?
Is it only Alice with the probs?
The entire territory I’m afraid, wouldn’t even stop for fuel in tenant!!
Since the introduction of the NT Tourist Tax to visit most of the attractions, NT is of the travel destinations. Hope rest of Australia introduces a Tourist Tax for Territorians.
We all know about the disgusting behaviour of certain groups in Alice, I’ll never go back there. Someone I know had the contents of their wallet stolen while they were asleep in tourist accommodation in Alice only a couple of weeks ago. The thieves came in to the room while the owner of the wallet was asleep!!!!
There is always a positive from so much negativity..
By the look at all those comments looks like more space in the free camps and a lot quieter in most locations from now on..
Been travelling and camping all over the Top End and NT most if my life..
In the early days in a swag on the ground..later a tent and for the last 20 years in a caravan…NEVER had a problem…!
Our daughter lives in Alice Springs and we still won’t come and visit.
We worry about her and want her to leave.
Every day we read on FB a action for Alice page, how residents are leaving, how businesses are closing. Business owners having to camp at their business. When you see videos of Alice Springs Woolworths having to lock customers inside for their own safety while a youth has a knife. Cars getting stolen, assaults, breakin’s, fires. Gangs of feral kids running amok.
There is no law or order.
Alice Springs is not safe for anyone day or at night for locals or visitors.
Was there in 2022 on our way to Darwin and back though again 4 weeks later. Did shopping etc both times but didn’t do the tourist things we’ve done those before
No issues at all
We visited Alice Springs last year in June and July for a few days. We never felt threatened by anyone. We went to local attractions such as the wildlife park and the local gaps in the MacDonnell Ranges. Shopped at the local Woolies. Drove our e-scooters through the local park beside the Todd River. Went to the Alice Springs show. Watched the local fireworks from our caravan park (we could see 3 different displays each lasting hours long from our caravan).
We are looking at travel for 3 weeks in NT in August but if things get worse we will look at heading west instead.
I feel so sorry for the Alice Spring community as this use to be a wonderful place to visit, but now with this media coverage and the locals speaking out on Facebook it makes you wonder wether it is safe to go there.
Tourism is a very important part of the Alice and the government and local elders need to do more to assist in this matter.
My wife and 4 other couples planned to spend 10 weeks in Alice using it as a hub to visit the many attractions on offer from Ayers Rock and the Olga’s to the West MacDonnells and everywhere in between. The crime has put an end to that. The tourism people don’t seem to realise or accept that the grey nomad community are not afraid to spend up big seeing as much as they can as they may not pass this way again. Control the youth crime and the tourists will return and spend.
Alice Springs is still a great destination for so many stunning places to visit. Maybe not so for caravanners and campers unless we stay at other destinations such as the Rock and Kings and out of town. If affordable I would now prefer to fly in on a tour and be supported in a group. It is sad that we take these places off our lists as there are many tourism business riding on the need for visitors or else they will be shut down and the infrastructure will deteriorate. I don’t have a solution other than get tougher on the culprits and take them out of town.
THE RAMPANT CRIME IN ALICE SPRINGS WILL TURN ANYONE OFF PITY ALICE IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL TOWN
Facebook page “Action for Alice 2020” will provide lots of alarming reading for anyone thinking of heading that way.
Back in the good old days, we spent many carefree weeks in the area, saw the Todd flowing three times, which apparently makes us locals, but now I wouldn’t be bothered. Stolen utes filled with kids and loaded up with railway ballast just right for smashing windows as they drive around.
No thanks.
When we visited Alice spring and other NT towns in April last year, we always camped in secure van parks and free sites doing lots of research on social media and other sites it was a good indicator what to expect and asking the locals, (not what the Polly’s) what happening around there local town, we love NT just where on edge a few times. Stay safe out there ppl.
J&D , And raising the legal age of responsibility to 14 is a good idea ?, I think not.
About time they stopped blaming covid and the cost of living and get with the real problem by
addressing the criminal activity by handing out some real punishment as a deterrent, hope things
change soon but wont hold my breath.
Same goes for Kununurra, Carnarvon etc:
Looking forward to getting back to Alice, visiting with the van this time, last time we flew in. Absolutely loved the place. The centre of town is pretty sad, but we honestly had no trouble at all and were there for a week. Not saying that all the stories are false, but there’s a lot of political mileage to be gained in inflating the issues that ALL towns with a high level of indigenous disadvantage have. It’s a shame that so many nomads are bypassing this part of the country.