Some grey nomads love hitting the dirt!
The poor mobile phone coverage and poor road quality in many parts of the Northern Territory is preventing many visitors from discovering the magic of the Top End, according to tourism experts.
The federal Parliament’s Northern Australia Committee has received submissions from Tourism Top End, Kakadu Tourism and the NT Government insisting that infrastructure will play an integral role in the development of tourism in the Territory.
“Gone are the days where we could say ‘come visit the Outback, and leave the phone and stress of everyday life behind’,” a Tourism Top End submission stated. “Full access to telecommunications is essential and expected.”
It argued that the Northern Territory had too many ‘black-spots’ that were inhibiting growth, and that investment was needed to increase visitation in shoulder and low seasons.
According to the NT News, the submission came less than a month after two people were killed in a road crash in Litchfield National Park. A mobile phone black spot left the friends of those killed unable to call for help.
The submission also focussed on the fact that only 25% of roads across the NT were bitumen, and said a focus on developing the road network to all weather access would greatly benefit the tourism industry.
“As the bitumen rolls out on many of the northern roads, drive tourists will follow, eager to experience the beauty of Northern Australia,” said Committee Chair Warren Entsch. “The committee has learned that cultural tourism is high on the wishlist of many international tourists, but there is relatively little on offer when they arrive.”
It would certainly help but I think the cost factor would keep most away. We all usually visit the once and don’t come back for that reason. $300 plus power for a week in a run down caravan park has put us off.
For what it’s worth when I visit the NT ( almost yearly) I seek alternatives to bitumen at all times. Trying to find quiet camping spot along the Stuart Hwy during the ” tourist season ” is hopeless. There’s a reason Boggy Hole and Ruby Gap are nice….no massive access.
My thought about roads is” you aren’t going to see the real Australia”from the bitumen. By all means better phone coverage but outback is outback. How did our pioneers cope or those who live in remote regions
I plain and simple. ITS THE COST !!
If you want effective communications – get a HF radio (land mobile or get a ham radio licence) as well as the UHF CB. I am a HF operator and never get out of comms as a result. The old Flying Doctor sets were HF and they kept earlier generations connected.
One of the biggest draw backs in NT is the price to enter Kakadu. This is often referred to a Kakadu don’t!!! Mobile reception is limited in all parts of Australia and not just NT. We invested in a Cel Fi system and if you have half a bar we get 4 or 5 bars.