Alice Grimshaw, Marketing and Events Manager at Sweethearts, the iconic venue at The Cinema Collective in Darwin, encouraged Territorians to get out and support local restaurants, bars and hospitality venues.
"Lunch or dinner, drinks or a dance - at Sweethearts and across our hospitality industry, there are so many opportunities to celebrate the Territory way, especially on Valentine's Day."
Sam Bennett, General Manager of Tourism Top End, agreed that there was no better place to celebrate Valentine's Day than in the Territory, as the Top End's tourism peak body concludes its own Valentine's Day digital campaign.
"Sunsets instead of bouquets, stories instead of boxes of chocolates, and moments that bring you closer together - that's what Valentine's Day is all about, and the Territory is in no short supply of options when it comes to one-of-a-kind experiences and romantic staycations," she said.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Northern Territory's hospitality sector employs nearly 6,000 people in the Northern Territory, adding over $427 million to the economy in the year ending 2025.
The Finocchiaro CLP Government is set to release its Visitor Economy Strategy this year after a year of record growth in the tourism industry, with Tourism Research Australia reporting a 28% increase in visitation and a 38% increase in visitor spend in the year to September 2025.
"The world is falling in love with the Territory, and in our year of growth, certainty, and security, we want to ensure that small businesses - particularly our hospitality venues - share in that love. After all, when tourism thrives, the Territory thrives," Minister Boothby concluded.
