A report in the Northern Territory News says that off peak southern visitors have pushed Territory tourist numbers to record highs.
The total number of interstate tourists rose by 36,000, or 11 per cent, from 341,000 to 377,000 in the 2006-07tax year, figures from Tourism Research Australia’s latest National Visitor Survey have shown.
Domestic visitors spent 50 per cent, or $233 million, more than in the previous financial year, lifting tourism revenue from $469 million to $702 million in 2006-07.
Interstate holidaymakers also stayed longer, with average stays increasing by two nights to 10 nights, beating the national average of seven nights.
The number of visitor nights spent in the Territory increased by 1.2 million nights, or 43per cent, from 2.6 million nights to 3.8million.
Tourism NT chief executive Maree Tetlow said the record results were boosted by good off-peak seasons. “Strong June- and December-quarter figures – the shoulder period – contributed to the result,” Ms Tetlow said. “And because the peak tourism season was operating at capacity, Tourism NT was targeting growth in the shoulder periods.”
A new campaign, “NT On Sale”, is to be launched in the next two weeks to draw wet season tourists. “We are aiming to have a smoother tourism sector with not so much seasonal variation,” Ms Tetlow said.
“With less seasonality and more consistent results, we will get new investment and reinvestment in the sector.” “That’s our target.”
Ms Tetlow said 800 new hotel rooms were being built in the Territory over the next 18 months. “With an increase in the number of hotel beds, we will see growth in the peak season numbers,” she said.
It follows last week’s International Visitor Survey results showing that fewer overseas tourists visited the NT in 2006-07, but spent a record $367 million.
Report by The Mole and The Northern Territory News
