The Territory Labor Government has released its first Long-term Business Events Strategy. The Strategy, which will guide the growth of the NT business events sector for the next 10 years and beyond, is part of Turbocharging Tourism.
The Strategy includes an analysis of the sector’s present position, a vision of where business events in the NT could be positioned by 2030, and pathways to realise potential growth.
It also includes identified impediments to growth, consideration of the differences between Territory business event destinations, and input from national industry bodies and local industry partners and stakeholders.
Strengths recognised through stakeholder consultation included the increased budget for business events provided by Turbocharging Tourism and TURBO2, and the Territory’s unique cultural experiences.
High-level identified opportunities include marketing
the NT as a destination for pre and post touring, attracting more business
events in the shoulder months and increasing the number of familiarisation
trips to encourage business event planners to experience the NT for themselves.
Targeting business events related to the growth and developing sectors
identified via the Northern Territory Government’s Economic Development
Framework is also seen as important.
The aim of the Strategy is that by 2030, business events will be delivering $68
million in delegate expenditure to the Territory economy.
The Strategy will be released in Darwin today. Bookings for seminars in Alice Springs and Uluru are still open:
Alice Springs Convention Centre
10.30am – 11.30am, Wednesday 17 July 2019
Uluru Meeting Place, Uluru
3.15pm – 4.15pm, Wednesday 31 July 2019
Book now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ntcb-business-events-strategy-launch-yulara-tickets-64349223259
Quotes from Minister for Tourism, Sport and Culture, Lauren Moss:
“The Territory Labor Government recognises the importance of the business events market to the Territory economy, and is investing $2.33 million in the sector through Turbocharging Tourism and $7 million through TURBO2.
“Our NT Business Events Support Fund, which is part of Turbocharging Tourism, has so far attracted 45 business events and conferences to the NT, which will bring 13,725 delegates and inject $32 million in estimated delegate expenditure into our economy.
“Business events deliver significant benefits by supporting local tourism, retail and hospitality jobs, and by boosting our economy.
“On average, business events travellers spend more than other types of visitors, so more business events travellers to the NT means more money in the pockets of Territorians.
“A business event attracting 500 delegates that takes place in the Territory injects more than $1 million in estimated delegate expenditure into our economy, so we will continue to invest in this as an area of economic growth.
“The Long-Term Business Events Strategy will enable us to work with key industry stakeholders to focus on identified growth areas and opportunities to secure even more business events for the NT.”
Quotes from Peter Savoff, General Manager, Darwin Convention Centre:
“Business events are an important industry sector. The benefits they deliver go beyond hotel rooms and patrons at restaurants. Business events leave legacies long after the conference is finished, including upskilling the local industry, developing new opportunities in the region and enhancing a destination’s reputation as a knowledge-based city, to name just a few.
“We are excited about the new opportunities the Northern Territory Long-term Business Events Strategy will bring, especially in growing our international reputation as a business events destination and continuing to attract more major national conferences.”
Quotes from Craig Jervis, Chief Operating
Officer, Lasseters:
“The business
events sector provides significant economic and strategic value to Central
Australia and the continued support of the Northern Territory Government
and Tourism NT’s Northern Territory Convention Bureau is pivotal in attracting
and securing business events for Alice Springs.
“Business events showcase the Outback as an accessible and iconic destination encouraging repeat visitation and generating positive destination media.
“Government and private investment in attracting business events are imperative to our community and the Alice Springs economy.”
Quotes from Peter Graham, Director of Sales, Voyages Indigenous Tourism:
“We welcome the release of the Northern Territory’s Long-term Business Events Strategy. A successful Business Events sector represents significant economic opportunities for the Territory, and the compilation of a 10-year, NT-specific strategy should provide the framework for a profitable and sustainable future.”
Media Contact: Lisa Sennett 0436 929 858