1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,320 Speaker 1: It's been a big week for the Northern Territory tourism industry, 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: with the inaugural Destination in Tea conference last week alongside 3 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: the launch of the government's Visitor Economy Strategy for twenty 4 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: thirty two. It sets out an ambitious goal to grow 5 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: the visitor economy to two point two billion dollars. Now, 6 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:21,760 Speaker 1: Head of Tourism Central Australia, Daniel Rochford, joins me on 7 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: the line. Get a Daniel. 8 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 2: Morning, Katie, and good morning to you listeners. 9 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: Now, Daniel, you've just arrived home, as I understand it, 10 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: after a week here in the North. How was that 11 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:34,559 Speaker 1: week of events? 12 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 2: Well, apart from the fact how do you guys live 13 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 2: in that heat? I was lovely to get back to 14 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 2: the beautiful twenty five degrees of hours yesterday. But you 15 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 2: live in enough. 16 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: You live in an oven, We live in a sauna. 17 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 2: So true, so true. But look, you know it was 18 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,959 Speaker 2: a great week. It was really all inspiring to have 19 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 2: the whole industry across the Northern Territory come to Darwin 20 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 2: to sit together over the various different activities that the 21 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 2: tourist Northern Territory have organized. You know, it was good 22 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 2: to share what the South and the North were doing. 23 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 2: But it was also great to be part of the 24 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 2: launch of the new visitor Economy strategy because that's been 25 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 2: what we've been looking for and what we've been asking 26 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 2: for government to do is to have a united strategy 27 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 2: that we can focus in on. We've got a target 28 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 2: that's very clear, very ambitious, but achievable, and also some 29 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 2: key objectives that we're working towards, and you know, now 30 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:39,960 Speaker 2: is the time where we need to unite as an 31 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 2: industry kind as a pack team territory focusing on getting 32 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 2: those outcomes achieved. 33 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: I mean, it is an ambitious goal, growing the economy 34 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: to two point two billion dollars. Daniel, was there much 35 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 1: detail given about how we might do this, Yeah. 36 00:01:56,280 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 2: Look, it's this is still a process going through and 37 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 2: the next process is developing the sort of action plan 38 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 2: from the strategy, and that's again going to be done 39 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 2: in collaboration with industry and to the regions. But you know, 40 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:16,359 Speaker 2: it's clearly going to be focusing on some core areas 41 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 2: such as encouraging more product and supporting the existing operations, 42 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 2: dealing with the global perception of the Northern Territory and 43 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 2: how we amplify all the great things that make up 44 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:33,959 Speaker 2: the territories tourism industry to get that connectivity piece, because 45 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 2: you know, the big thing is this government has done 46 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 2: a lot of work to get those flights in from 47 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 2: China and Malaysia and other parts of Asia. But we've 48 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,639 Speaker 2: now got to fill those seats and that's going to 49 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 2: be a big job. You know. Infrastructure, you know, I'll 50 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 2: harp on about this day and night, but we've got 51 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 2: to seal the Marinni Loop road down here in Central Australia. 52 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 2: And you know, I'm sure there's some big infrastructure projects 53 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 2: that need to be worked on at the top end. Well, 54 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 2: those things that need to be done, and we need 55 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,399 Speaker 2: to capitalize on opportunities. You know, we've got the Olympics 56 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 2: in twenty thirty two, but a big one for the 57 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 2: Northern Territory in twenty twenty eight is we have the 58 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 2: total solar eclipse coming traversing straight through the Northern Territory. 59 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:18,360 Speaker 2: We're expecting tens of thousands of people to come to 60 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 2: that event. 61 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:20,519 Speaker 1: So when's that happening? 62 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 2: Tell me more July and twenty twenty eight. We have 63 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 2: the longest period of the eclipse happens in the Northern 64 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 2: Territory literally goes right over the Devil's Marble south of 65 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 2: Tenant Creek, but it starts up at the top of 66 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 2: Western Australia and then heads over you know, the guts 67 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 2: of the Northern Territory across the Plenty Highway. So you know, 68 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 2: we're expecting you know where. You know, there's a lot 69 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 2: of preparatory work that's been gone into this thus far. 70 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 2: I'm being told the gang's been charted, there's tense cities 71 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 2: being planned for, bus charters being organized. There's we've got 72 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 2: I think five or six private jets coming into Tenant Creek. 73 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 2: So yeah, it's going to be a big event. And 74 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 2: that's one of quite a few things. You know. Next 75 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 2: year we've got, of course, got the fiftieth anniversary of 76 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 2: the Think Desert Race. So you know, as we sort 77 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:18,559 Speaker 2: of go towards twenty thirty two, which is the life 78 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 2: of this visitor economy strategy, there's going to be a 79 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:24,160 Speaker 2: lot of pinch points where we're going to be focusing 80 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:27,359 Speaker 2: our attention on events is such a critical piece and 81 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 2: I think the cornerstone of the major change that's happened 82 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 2: is that the government's made the decision to bring major 83 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 2: events he to into the Tourism Northern Territory. Now we 84 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 2: have a new agency Tourism Events Northern Territory and growth. 85 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: Is that a good thing, Daniel from your perspective? 86 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:49,239 Speaker 2: Yeah? Absolutely. I remember the first discussion that Patrick Betford 87 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 2: and I had with the then opposition as a spokesperson 88 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 2: for terism Mary Clair Bootfe about five years ago, was 89 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 2: if there was one thing you could do if when 90 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 2: you become ministers this and to Mary Clair's credit, she's 91 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 2: achieved it. 92 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: Hey, over the past few years. We know for you 93 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 1: guys in Allie Springs it's been you know, like it's 94 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: been a tumultuous time to put it mildly, certainly with 95 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:15,279 Speaker 1: you know, with the crime and that kind of thing, 96 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:18,799 Speaker 1: and the decrease now that we're seeing when it comes 97 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,160 Speaker 1: to those crime stats. What's the feedback then from your members? 98 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's positive. We're heading in the right direction. Are 99 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 2: we there yet? No? And I think there's still even 100 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 2: the government's willing to admit that they're still you know, 101 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:37,359 Speaker 2: they're still working through things. But it is heading in 102 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 2: the right direction. There's no doubt about it. You know, 103 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 2: there's a sense of a sense of positivity coming back 104 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 2: into the tourism industry for the first time in a 105 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:50,279 Speaker 2: long time. Katie, I'm getting people coming to me saying, 106 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 2: you know, I'm interested in starting a tourism business. So 107 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:56,480 Speaker 2: you know, that just says, you know, there's some green 108 00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 2: buds of optimism starting to fallm up and you know what, what, 109 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 2: I've been in some really dark days over the last 110 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,040 Speaker 2: few years, but you know, we know where were our 111 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,040 Speaker 2: stress points are. You know, we're coming into one hour 112 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 2: of January in February. You know, that's traditionally a very 113 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:17,160 Speaker 2: difficult time for crime and antisocial behavior. But my you know, 114 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,359 Speaker 2: we're getting briefings. You know, I heard from the police 115 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:24,480 Speaker 2: commissioner last week about their strategies here in Alice Springs, 116 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 2: and you know where they seem to be getting their 117 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 2: heads around working through that. And you know there's a 118 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 2: lot of the federal funds that through Marion Scrimjaw that's 119 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 2: starting to flow through as well. So you know, we're 120 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 2: pretty optimistic about where things are heading. Yeah, you know, 121 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 2: after what has been some challenging years where we've got 122 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:47,359 Speaker 2: a bit of a light at the end of the tunnel. 123 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I hope, So, I hope. So for you guys, hey, 124 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 1: before I let you go, I know Quantas just recently 125 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 1: announced some sale fees to Alice Springs as well. How 126 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: is that heading into the summer months. 127 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, great, and what we needed more than ever. Obviously 128 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,360 Speaker 2: we've got the best kept season campaign that's running in 129 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 2: compara in partnership with Tourism Northern Tourism Events Northern Territory 130 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 2: and Tourism top End, so that this is part of 131 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 2: that campaign and you know, and the more we can 132 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 2: encourage people to come to the Northern Territory at this 133 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 2: time with cheaper affairs, you know, we're going to get 134 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 2: bums on seats and there's no better time to come 135 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 2: to the Northern Territory I think. You know, you've got 136 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 2: less crowds. You're seeing the magic of Laru without the 137 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 2: tens the crowd. You know, pricing on ground is a 138 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 2: little bit cheaper over summer too, so you know, there's 139 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 2: a great term, no better time to come and experience 140 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 2: the majesty of all the Northern Territory at this time. 141 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, it is a beautiful place, no doubt about that. 142 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 2: Well. 143 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 1: Daniel Rochford Tourism Central Australia CEO. Always great to speak 144 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 1: to you, just really quick before I let you go. 145 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 1: How'd you guys go at the Brolgers? How did Central 146 00:07:57,840 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: Australia go at the Brolgers on the weekends? 147 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 2: Yeah? Really, well it was a great night. There's a 148 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 2: suffice to say, a flocker. Brogers flew back down to 149 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 2: the Central Australia on yesterday's plane, so I think. Yeah. 150 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 2: Ulary Segue got to awards as Rock Resort, a cell 151 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 2: out back retreat Daniel and Anthony Hayes. They have they 152 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 2: do an amazing experience just south of Tea Tree. They 153 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 2: got award for Hosted Accommodation Safari Lodge in Tennant Creek. 154 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 2: An amazing place if you're ever wanted to say in 155 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 2: Tennant Creek. So a Safari Lodge. Tourism Central Australia. One 156 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 2: Best Marketing for our stories from the Heart campaign, which 157 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 2: was very special for us. Yeah it was good, good 158 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 2: good night. And Earth Sanctuary and Intrepid also got awards. 159 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 1: All good stuff well, Daniel Rochford, lovely to catch up 160 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:52,320 Speaker 1: with you as always, Thanks so much for your time 161 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 1: this morning.