The low Australian dollar has been encouraging huge numbers of international visitors to our shores, but it seems tourism authorities are not forgetting the importance of grey nomads..
According to new data from Tourism Research Australia, overseas tourists spent 18% more here than they did the previous year. Tasmania and New South Wales saw the biggest growth, with WA and the Northern Territory seeing the least.
However, Tourism NT’s chief executive, Tony Mayell, was not downhearted.
He told the ABC the organisation was adjusting its ‘Do the NT’ campaign, and was working on its domestic messages, because although Australians were putting the Territory on their bucket list, it was not at the top.
“We’re second to Queensland in terms of a holiday destination, but in terms of actual conversion, it’s a very small percentage of Australians that actually get here,” Mr Mayell said. “So it’s on their bucket list, but the message has to be ‘get on with it before you croak it’.”
The ABC reports that, in its 2020 Vision report, Tourism NT stated that the economy relied on the tourism sector far more than the rest of Australia.
Tourism is the Northern Territory’s largest employer, and the NT Government is looking to grow the sector to a $2.2 billion industry by 2020.
Most international visitors come from New Zealand, China, the UK, USA and Singapore, with the China market growing with particular speed.
Will be there this winter. Save a spot for us!!
We’ll see you up there Steve
Spent last winter up there, Van parks for dog owners were few ,far, and very expensive for larger rigs. At $60 a night far too expensive. Ended up staying at Robbie Robbins @$35/n and that is just a Equestrian reserve. If they want more tourists, perhaps treat us a bit better.
We really enjoyed our stay and what they had to offer but certainly won’t be spending a long time up there again
I agree with Lee. The NT is a fantastic destination, but, oh so expensive for ordinary Aussies to visit. Overseas tourists get more bang for their buck and do not notice the costs as we do. Not sure about the answer because it seems all or most food sold in the NT comes from way down south. More locally produced products sold off the shelves may or should bring down prices and the NT government could look at any charges they place on tourist operators which are then passed on. And of course, fuel is always an issue. All this combined will often discourage more local Aussie tourism.