Tourism visitor statistics released by Tourism Research Australia (TRA)* show that domestic and international visitation to the NT has stabilised in the September quarter of 2018.
Domestic holiday visitation to the NT in the year ending September 2018 experienced strong growth (up +13 per cent to 657,000 visitors); the highest level recorded by the National Visitor Survey since it commenced in 1998.
Visitation to the Territory has been on a soft downward trend for the last two years, however the latest figures are cause for optimism.
The Territory Labor Government’s record $103 million Turbocharging Tourism stimulus package, announced in February 2018, was designed to immediately attract more tourists and business travellers, injecting more money into the economy and mitigating some of the impact of the INPEX Ichthys project transition from construction to operations.
Visitation over the July to September 2018 months grew by +8.2 per cent for international visitation and +25 per cent for domestic holiday visitation compared to the same months last year.
In the year ending September 2018, combined visitation to the NT remained relatively stable at -0.5 per cent or 1.8 million visitors, with a marginal decline in international (-1.1 per cent to 289,000 visitors) and the domestic market stabilising (-0.4 per cent to 1.5 million visitors).
While combined spending in the year ending September 2018 decreased by -3.4% (to $2.2 billion), holiday expenditure was up +32 per cent to $806 million.
The TRA figures indicate that holiday visitors are starting to replace the void created with the demobilisation of INPEX workers this year.
* Source: Tourism Research Australia https://www.tra.gov.au/International/International-tourism-results/overview.
Quotes from Minister for Tourism and Culture, Lauren Moss
“The Territory Labor Government announced its record $103 million Turbocharging Tourism stimulus in February, aimed at attracting more visitors, creating local jobs and putting more money into the pockets of Territorians.
“This investment was designed to immediately attract more tourists and business travellers to the NT, injecting more money into the economy and mitigating some of the impact of the INPEX Ichthys project transition from construction to operations.
“These results are beginning to show that the stimulus package, which includes a significant increase in marketing with key distribution partners, is starting to come into effect. More than 36,000 holiday bookings have been made, with a projected $44.7 million in extra visitor expenditure.
“These are visitors who would not be visiting the Territory but for our Turbocharging investment.
“Through the record $103 million Turbocharging Tourism stimulus, we are also investing $20.78 million in our events, festivals and tourism experiences because we know they bring visitors to the Territory, money into the economy and create jobs.
"$56.24 million is also being invested for new and upgraded infrastructure to enhance the visitor experience, particularly in some of the Territory’s most beautiful parks, attracting more visitors here and generating more tourism-related jobs as well as jobs during construction.
“Turbocharging Tourism is providing a critical boost to the Territory economy – supporting thousands of local businesses and jobs.”
Media Contact: Trish Grimshaw 0401 119 242