News archive
2022
October
Ocean cruise liners welcomed back to NT with arrival of the Coral Princess
The Northern Territory welcomed ocean cruise liners back to Territory waters with the arrival of the Coral Princess cruise ship on 20 October, a major boost for our tourism and hospitality industry.
With capacity for 1,970 passengers, the cruise liner received a warm Darwin welcome for its maiden visit, which included an official plaque exchange between the ship and Darwin Port.
Central Australia tour to bring students to the Red Centre
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.
From NZ to NT - Kiwis encouraged to Seek Different
A new tourism campaign has been launched in New Zealand to encourage travel to the NT, to boost our visitor economy and create local jobs.
Starting this week, the campaign champions the individuality of NZ travellers while highlighting the Territory’s unique tourism offerings, from rich culture and history to breathtaking landscapes and spectacular wildlife.
Tourism operators muster the East Coast
Twenty-four Territory tourism operations have hit the East Coast to showcase what makes the NT a unique destination, in order to boost our visitor numbers and increase the vital tourism industry.
Culture is closer thank you think - Aboriginal tourism campaign kicks off
A new tourism campaign, Culture is closer than you think, has launched Australia-wide, targeting holidaymakers who have an interest in Aboriginal culture, a core component of the Northern Territory’s tourism offering.
There is no better place in Australia for holidaymakers to immerse themselves in authentic Aboriginal cultural experiences than the Territory.
September
2022 Brolga Awards portal now open for individual nominations
Nominations are now open for individual award categories in the upcoming 2022 Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Awards.
If you know an individual working in the NT tourism industry that deserves recognition you can nominate them for one of the individual award categories including the George Dunne Award Outstanding Contribution by an Individual or the SKAL Tourism Industry Employee Award.
Round 3 Roadhouse to Recovery grant recipients announced
More than $4.6 million will be injected into the Territory economy with the latest round of Roadhouse to Recovery grants.
17 regional and remote caravan parks, wayside inns and roadhouse operators have today been announced as the recipients of $2 million in grants from the third round of the program.
Many businesses are undertaking major upgrades to their facilities, with operator contributions of more than $2.6 million, all utilising local NT suppliers.
August
Today Show’s Tim Davies hit the road for an NT Summer
Aussies around the country are seeing first-hand that summer starts early in the Territory with Channel 9’s Today Show weather host Tim Davies beaming live weather crosses on an NT road trip this week.
Kicking off in the Red Centre, viewers’ are seeing the summer like conditions with blue skies against ochre-coloured sand - giving the perfect backdrop to take a dip in an outback swimming hole.
This morning Tim was live from Uluru with pre-filmed segments including Field of Light – Uluru, an Uluru Segway Tour, fine dining in the open-air restaurant of Tali Wiru and a cultural experience with Maruku Arts.
Aboriginal Tourism Grants expanded
Round 4 of the Aboriginal Tourism Grant Program opened today, Monday 29 August, with an even bigger funding pool of $1 million in total.
This time the program has been expanded to enable NT Aboriginal owned businesses and organisations who are interested in diversifying into the tourism sector to apply.
Previous rounds have only been open to NT Aboriginal owned and operated tourism enterprises.
Territory's Top Tour Guides
Central Australian based tour guide Anna Dakin has been crowned the Northern Territory’s 2022 Top Tour Guide and will represent the NT at the upcoming 2022 Australian Top Tourism Awards, held on September 13 at Parliament House, Canberra.
A freelance tour guide originally from the UK, Anna has worked with a number of tourism businesses in Central Australia but now leads the World Expeditions ‘Six Day Larapinta Trek in Comfort’ which is recognised as one of the Great Walks of Australia.
Brolga nominations closing soon
Northern Territory tourism operators are being reminded to get their nominations in for the NT’s official tourism awards, the Brolgas, with nominations closing on 31 August.
The Brolgas recognise and encourage tourism businesses that strive for excellence in all areas of their operations, with 25 national business categories.
July
World Community Development Conference to inject $1.7m into local economy
Darwin has been announced as the successful destination to host the 2023 World Community Development conference ‘From the Edge’.
The annual World Community Development Conference brings together global practitioners, academics, policy makers and other stakeholders from over 20 countries, to share learnings and discuss ideas and solutions for community development and community work.
The Northern Territory Government has partnered with the Darwin Convention Centre to secure this global conference for Darwin, which will run from 20 -22 June 2023.
Top End Livin' Local winner takes on the Katherine River
Last year Tourism NT ran a Livin’ Local photo competition for Territorians to showcase the Territory through a local’s eye. Harnessing the passion of locals to capture and share the NT through their social media, the competition aimed to show the rest of Australia what they were missing out on and encourage holiday visitation to the NT.
With more than 1,000 entries showcasing the natural beauty of the Territory Top End winner Sarsha Sherrif and Red Centre winner Becky Page-Wood submitted picture perfect entries winning a $4,000 NT holiday voucher. Top End winner Sarsha has shared her travel experience with Gecko Canoeing and Trekking’s Katherine River 3 Day Hiatus.
Summer starts early in the NT
Tourism NT's latest domestic marketing campaign, Summer starts early in the NT, aims to boost Territory tourism numbers in our typically quieter low season.
Australians that are fed up with the dreary winter weather and don’t want to fight the Christmas holiday crowds are being encouraged to look to the Northern Territory.
Tourism grants - now available
The Northern Territory Government has announced a number of new and returning grant programs which will be available for Territory tourism operators from 1 July 2022.
June
Darwin to host World Aquaculture Conference in 2023
Darwin has been announced as the successful destination to host the 2023 World Aquaculture conference. The Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade’s NT Business Events and NT Fisheries partnered with the Darwin Convention Centre to secure this global conference.
This prestigious conference will be delivered over four days, from 29 May to 1 June 2023 and is expected to attract global industry experts.
Cruise ship tourism is back in the Territory
The Top End’s Dry Season provided a warm welcome today to the stunning expedition cruise ship Silver Explorer at Darwin Port. The 144 guest luxury expedition cruise ship arrived on its maiden voyage to Darwin, with a plaque exchange to commemorate the occasion taking place last Friday, 3 June 2022.
May
Greater Darwin region Destination Management Plan released
The Greater Darwin region Destination Management Plan has been released, marking the final Destination Management Plan (DMP) for the Northern Territory.
The Greater Darwin region DMP follows the release of DMPs for major regional Territory tourism areas of Alice Springs and MacDonnell Ranges, Big Rivers, Barkly, and Lasseter in 2020, and East Arnhem Land in 2021.
Roadhouse to Recovery Grants Now Open
As part of Budget 2022 the Northern Territory Government will invest a further $2 million in a third round of the Territory Small Business Roadhouse to Recovery Grant program, with the grants opening on 10 May 2022.
This round will see wayside inns and roadhouses within the Territory able to apply for grants up to $150,000 for infrastructure improvements, with businesses required to provide a minimum 50 per cent cash contribution to the project and grants made on a $1 for $1 basis.
NT Cruise Tourism Strategy 2022-25 released
The Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade has launched the Northern Territory Cruise Tourism Strategy 2022-2025 (NT Cruise Tourism Strategy) ahead of the Australian Cruise Association’s regional roadshow taking place at the Darwin Convention Centre today.
The NT Cruise Tourism Strategy reflects emerging trends in the cruise industry prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and the steps to be taken over the next three years to regrow the industry.