2 October 2022
A group of teachers and education travel agents from across Australia has completed a week-long tour of Central Australia as part of the Northern Territory government's efforts to diversify and grow the tourism market.
The Northern Territory Learning Adventures familiarisation tour was undertaken by ten teachers and agents from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, covering Uluru, Kings Canyon and Alice Springs.
Some highlights included watching the sunrise at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, a Maruku Arts Dot Painting Workshop at Uluru, Walpa Gorge Walk, Sounds of Silence dining experience, Field of Light exhibition and an Uluru Camel Tour.
The familiarisation tours keep the NT front of mind for teachers and education tourism agents, enriching their understanding of the Northern Territory as a destination for learning adventure.
It's a crucial part of our tourism sector, in 2021-2022 the average expenditure in the Territory per school was $99,470, with each school spending an average of 9 days in the NT.
The previous NT Learning Adventures familiarisation tour was held in the Top End in April 2022 and has already resulted in confirmed school excursion bookings.
The Save and Learn Program offers funding to eligible interstate school groups, providing an incentive to book and travel to the NT, which in turn supports tourism businesses to grow the sector by attracting more schools, encouraging them to stay longer, see, do and spend more.
To date, 47 schools have already applied for the 2022-23 Save and Learn program.
Quotes from Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Nicole Manison:
"It's important for agents to see our incredible Red Centre first hand and meet with local NT operators so they can sell the ionic Territory experience to school groups.
Tours like this keep the NT front of mind for school excursions, growing the education tourism sector in the Territory, boosting our economy and creating more jobs for Territorians".
Northern Territory Government
