The Lawler Labor Government will deliver an $18 million boost to the Territory's tourism industry, with more investment in attracting more flights to the Territory and providing discounts to encourage more tourists to visit and experience everything the NT has to offer.
The new tourism support package includes $16 million extra funding for the Territory Aviation Attraction Scheme and $2 million for another round of the Territory Tourism Discount Scheme, which provides 25 per cent off select experiences and packages up to the value of $5000.
The first tranche of the discount scheme will include $1 million in funding and bookings will be able to be made in September this year, for experiences and packages in Central Australia and used during October 2024 to March 2025, and Top End packages can be booked from October and used from February to March 2025. These dates will ensure more support is rolled out quickly for Central Australian tourism operators and ensures that Top End operators get a timely boost in the wet season.
A further $1 million for discount vouchers will also be allocated for the 2025/2026 financial year.
The Territory Tourism Discount Scheme was introduced by the Lawler Government in February this year, and it has already delivered more than $3.1 million in bookings for Territory tourism businesses.
Tourism is an important economic driver in the Territory, contributing around $2.6 billion to the NT economy and supporting around 16,300 workers.
The Territory Aviation Attraction Scheme was launched in July 2023, and it has already secured 334,000 new seats to the Territory through to 30 June 2026 - this does not include any of the seats that were to be provided by Bonza.
This new funding will provide certainty for airlines and open up the potential for more new routes to the Territory from interstate and overseas destinations. This increased investment is on top of the $10 million already allocated to the scheme for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years.
This new tourism support package is on top of the Lawler Labor Government's $68 million investment in the tourism sector as part of the 2024-25 Budget.
The Lawler Labor Government will ensure the Visitor Experience Enhancement Program (VEEP) will continue until at least the end of June 2028, with $12 million locked in to ensure the program's long-term future. It is another way the Lawler Labor Government is supporting the tourism industry and giving certainty to local businesses.
VEEP provides up to 50 per cent of total project funding to local Territory businesses to undertake projects that improve the destination and on-ground visitor experience
So far the Lawler Government has awarded $13.5 million to 391 businesses leading to over $30 million in private investment into Tourism in the Territory.
Attributable to Chief Minister Eva Lawler:
"My Government will always back the tourism industry because it is an important economic driver in the Territory - contributing around $2.6 billion to the NT economy and supporting around 16,300 workers."
"This extra $18 million investment will provide support to operators during their quieter periods and provide long-term certainty in attracting more air connections and visitors to the Territory."
"We're working hard to support tourism operators and talk the tourism industry and the Territory up to keep Territorians in work."
Attributable to Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Joel Bowden:
"We will always work with the Territory's tourism industry to deliver targeted and timely support."
"This package will target new airlines, deliver extra support where it is needed and also provide long-term certainty to attract more visitors to the Territory."
Northern Territory Government
