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Media releases

This page provides links to Tourism NT's media releases. Each release has contact details listed at the bottom for further information.

July 2008

9 - NT Participates In National Tourism Conference
Northern Territory Tourism Minister, Kon Vatskalis, will be supporting moves to establish a National Tourism Accreditation Framework, which will ensure high industry standards and quality customer service throughout the industry.

2 - Indigenous tour guide trainees now working for local company
The Lhere Artepe Tour Guide Training Program that commenced in Alice Springs earlier this year has proved to be a success with four graduates now employed in full time tourism roles.

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June 2008

29 - New Online Accreditation Program For NT Tourism Industry
Tourism operators can now achieve their accreditation online through a new program designed to help establish business operating systems and plans required for industry accreditation.

27 - Confidence to Invest in the Territory's Future
Chief Minister Paul Henderson this morning toured Darwin’s newest tourist attractions, Crocosaurus Cove, saying the world-class project highlighted the confidence of the private sector in the Territory’s economic future.

26 - Frost win Tourism NT creative tender
Frost Design has been reappointed as Tourism NT’s creative agency for the next three years supplying creative, brand and advertising services to promote the Northern Territory as a tourist destination.

26 - Indigenous Tourism Hubs Planned For Darwin and Alice Springs
Emerging Indigenous tourism operators in Darwin and Alice Springs will be able to receive new support in running their operations as part of a new Territory Government initiative announced today.

23 - Tourism operators ‘Make The Switch’ towards renewable energy
The Territory Government has handed out more than $200,000 in grants to tourism operators who have jumped aboard the Tourism NT Make the Switch program launched in March.

18 - Imparja Camel Cup: to run or not to run?
Feel the excitement and buzz build around the town of Alice Springs on 12 July as the Imparja Camel Cup takes centre stage, entertaining locals, visitors and testing the nerves of even the best of camel riders.

18 - New Jewel in Darwin's Crown Opens
Chief Minister Paul Henderson has encouraged Territorians to be ambassadors for the new jewel in the Territory’s crown as he officially opened the Darwin Convention Centre.

18 - Great Walks of the Northern Territory
Head to the Northern Territory for an active winter break and discover some of Australia’s most scenic and challenging bushwalks.

13 - Northern Territory welcomes Top North American Travel Agents
 Twenty-four of North America’s ‘Premier Aussie Specialist’ travel agents have descended upon the Top End this week to experience the region about to be made famous by Australia the movie.

13 - NT on show at Australia's largest travel trade event
Northern Territory operators are gearing up for the southern hemisphere’s largest international travel trade show, the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) that begins in Perth tomorrow.

13 - A blockbuster competition for Northern Territory trade partners
US travel wholesalers are being encouraged to develop Australia the movie travel packages to the Northern Territory as part of a blockbuster competition by Tourism NT offering $20,000 in cooperative marketing to the most creative and saleable ideas.

10 - Convention Centre Delivers for Darwin
More than 11,000 delegates will descend on Darwin in the next financial year to attend a conference at the new $115 million Convention Centre, and Chief Minister Paul Henderson wants Territorians to celebrate. 

9 - Hundreds of Jobs at New Resort
A Darwin-first tropical beachside resort and park reserve will create hundreds of jobs for Territorians and a new recreation area for families, Chief Minister Paul Henderson said today.

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May 2008

29 - Discovery Walkway launched
The Alice Springs Discovery Walkway, connecting the Railway Station to the CBD, was launched by the Minister for Tourism, Kon Vatskalis, in partnership with the Chief Executive Officer of Great Southern Railway, Mr Tony Braxton-Smith.

29 - Alice Springs tourism operators receive 2012 vision
The Minister for Tourism, Kon Vatskalis, met with tourism operators in Alice Springs this morning to discuss the Northern Territory Tourism Strategic Plan.

28 - New adventure for four-wheel drive enthusiasts with launch of Binns Track 
A welcome new adventure for four-wheel drive enthusiasts was officially unveiled in Central Australia today with the opening of the new Binns Track.

22 - Chinese visitors arrive in Darwin for Heaven On Earth tour
A group of ten Chinese tourists left Darwin this morning to drive the Road to Heaven on Earth, a 12-day four-wheel drive journey across the Northern Territory.

16 - Northern Territory Featured on Chinese TV ... AGAIN!
The Northern Territory has been seen by up to 90 million people throughout China this week thanks to a special Travel TV documentary broadcast.

15 - New five year vision for NT tourism industry
The future direction of the Northern Territory’s tourism industry was launched today at the new Darwin Convention Centre.

14 - Chinese four-wheel drive group coming to Darwin
The first group of Chinese tourists emerging from the 2007 Chinese Central Television Network documentary on the NT, are coming to the Territory next week for a four wheel drive adventure.

6 - More to promote the Territory to the world in Budget 2008
Budget 2008 will invest more in the Territory’s tourism industry to help bring more travellers to the NT.

2 - First jet boat tour for Darwin
Darwin thrill seekers and visiting tourists will now be able to experience an exhilarating jet boat ride around Darwin’s beautiful harbour.

1- Travel agents embark on Red Centre adventure
Over 40 Australian travel agents will this week embark on a seven day Red Centre adveNTure as part of the Central Australian Famil 2008.

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April 2008

30 - Australian Geographic editor to present at WordStorm
Aspiring travel writers take note. As part of the motivational program devised for the 2008 Northern Territory Writers’ Festival WordStorm, Australian Geographic editor Ian Connellan will present a three-hour travel writing workshop in Darwin on Saturday, 17 May.

23 - Call for China’s photographers to capture the Territory
The Northern Territory Minister for Tourism, Kon Vatskalis, will today visit the headquarters of Panasonic China in Beijing to view a unique photographic exhibition of the Territory.

22 - Four-wheel drive enthusiasts encouraged to visit the Territory
The Minister for Tourism, Kon Vatskalis, is meeting with key representatives from four wheel drive associations in Beijing today to discuss future opportunities to entice this niche high-yield Chinese market to visit the Territory.

21 - China's travel reps given a taste of the Territory
The Northern Territory Minister for Tourism, Kon Vatskalis, accompanied by the ‘Northern Territory’s official friend of Tourism’, Ms Liang Zi, has met with over 60 of China’s key travel wholesalers, trade representatives and Chinese media within Shenzhen and Shanghai over the last three days providing them insight into the Northern Territory as a unique and desirable holiday destination.

18 - Territory photo exhibition launched in Southern China
The Northern Territory Minister for Tourism, Kon Vatskalis, accompanied by the ‘Northern Territory’s official friend of Tourism’, Ms Liang Zi,  today launched the inspirational “Heaven on Earth: The Northern Territory” photographic exhibition in Guangzhou to attract Southern Chinese people to visit the Northern Territory.

17 - Famous Chinese travel journalist promotes Northern Territory in China
The Northern Territory Minister for Tourism, Kon Vatskalis, today announced the appointment of China’s famous travel journalist, Ms Liang Zi, as the ‘Northern Territory’s official Friend of Tourism’.

17 - More flights, more opportunities for Territorians
Chief Minister Paul Henderson said Jetstar’s new daily flight brings opportunities for the Territory’s tourism industry and for Territorians to enjoy a getaway.

16 - Northern Territory Tourism Minister to visit Asia
The Northern Territory Minister for Tourism, Kon Vatskalis, will travel to Asia today to engage with key trade and industry partners within Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore over the next week.

14 - Milestone celebrations for Merrepen and Barunga festivals
Pack a picnic, pitch your tent and unroll your swag. This year two of the Northern Territory’s top Indigenous festivals, the Merrepen Arts Festival, from May 30 to June 1, and the Barunga Festival from June 6 to 9, promise two successive weekends jam packed with art, culture, music and sports.

8 - Darwin holiday packages for Elton John concert
The Territory Government is enticing Elton John fans and music lovers to visit Darwin for a truly unique travel experience.

4 - Tourism Minister meets with Federal counterpart
 Northern Territory Tourism Minister, Kon Vatskalis, welcomed his Federal counterpart, Hon Martin Ferguson, to Darwin this morning.

3 - Strengthening the position of Alice Springs tourism
 Alice Springs tourism operators will join the Territory Government, Town Council and Chamber of Commerce to share their vision on the future development of Alice Springs tourism, and create an action plan to make it happen.

2 - Share your story with Tourism NT
 Travel writers and photographers are invited to share their passion for the Northern Territory with the launch of Tourism NT’s third annual Share our Story Travel Writing and Share our Story Travel Photography competitions today.

2 - Call for entries at the 2008 Brolga Awards launch
 The Territory’s tourism operators are being encouraged to nominate their businesses and employees to compete for the tourism industry’s highest accolade, the Brolga Awards.

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March 2008

31 - Mentors assist indigenous tourism operators to achieve accreditation
The Territory Government will spend $60,000 to assist indigenous tourism operators achieve industry accreditation.

28 - Tourism operators encouraged to make the switch
The Territory’s tourism operators are being encouraged to make the switch to renewable energy under a new grants program designed to reduce carbon emissions.

28 - Fly/drive visitors on the rise for Katherine
Low cost airlines are making it more affordable for visitors to enjoy fly/drive adventures in the NT, resulting in more visitors driving out of the city centres to regional locations like Katherine.

28 - Fly/drive visitors on the rise for Tennant Creek
Low cost airlines are making it more affordable for visitors to enjoy fly/drive adventures in the NT, resulting in more visitors driving out of the city centres to regional locations like Tennant Creek.

11 - Northern Territory embraces cultural diversity
The Northern Territory Minister for Tourism, Kon Vatskalis, said the Territory Government was alarmed by reports a group of Indigenous people were asked to leave an Alice Springs backpacker hostel because of the colour of their skin.

6 - Rock on Darwin – let’s get Sir Elton John to the Top End in 2008
The Government has joined forces with a local company to encourage Territorians to register online in a bid to secure a performance by Sir Elton John in Darwin in May.

1 - Five million Beijing listeners to tune into the NT
Beijing’s Radio 103.9 will showcase the Northern Territory as a natural and cultural holiday destination during their 'Travel to the World' radio show today.

1 - Tiger seen at Alice Springs Airport
 The first Tiger Airways passengers flew into Alice Springs today and were greeted by a friendly welcome from local tourism industry and community members.

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February 2008

January 2008

December 2007

November 2007

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October 2007

September 2007

August 2007

July 2007

June 2007

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May 2007

April 2007

March 2007

February 2007

January 2007

Media releases 2006

Media releases 2005

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