1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:01,520 Speaker 1: Well, I think it's pretty obvious. 2 00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:05,200 Speaker 2: We all know that tourism is a major, major draw 3 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 2: card and a well major money maker. I think you'd 4 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 2: say here in the Northern Territory, and the Northern Territory 5 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 2: has had a really tough time when it comes to COVID. 6 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 2: I think that's happened all around the nation and all 7 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 2: around the world. However, yesterday the reopening of those international 8 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 2: borders happened for double vaccinated tourists and in conjunction, Tourism 9 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 2: Top End has then released some research that they've done 10 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 2: by p WC outlining the value of the visitor economy 11 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 2: to the Northern Territory. And in twenty nineteen we know 12 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 2: that tourism generated two point six billion dollars for the 13 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:45,520 Speaker 2: Northern Territory's economy and delivered four hundred and twenty seven 14 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:48,880 Speaker 2: million dollars in tax revenue for the government. Now, Glenn 15 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,839 Speaker 2: Hingley from Tourism top End, the general manager, joins me 16 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 2: on the line right now. 17 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 1: Glenn, good morning to. 18 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 3: You, Katy, good morning and good morning listener. 19 00:00:56,960 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: Now, Glenn, why was this research commissioned? 20 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 3: Katie. It's been a long two years for the territory 21 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 3: and it's been. I think every Territorian has felt which 22 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 3: they never thought about the tourism industry. Before. Tourism industry 23 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 3: was always those caravans that you see on the up 24 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 3: and down Stuart Highway, out in Kakadu, down in Litchfield, 25 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 3: all these different places in them all and there are 26 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 3: lots of people having a good time, and often we 27 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 3: would talk about how many tourists arrived in this last 28 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 3: quarter or this last year, and how long did they 29 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 3: stay and how much did they spend. What we found 30 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 3: is that we knew coming out of this pandemic, which 31 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 3: still went not through yet, we've got to rethink about 32 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 3: what does tourism mean for territorians and what does that 33 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 3: mean in terms of the need to keep investing in it. 34 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 3: As great as those images were of those English folk 35 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 3: and others jump getting off the plane yesterday and so 36 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 3: happy to finally be in Australia, there were one hundred 37 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 3: and eighty people on the plane that's right shutting off. 38 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 3: Yeah yeah, And so we're a long way away and 39 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 3: it's going to take the sustained development. But part of 40 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 3: that is, I think for more than just the tourism 41 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 3: operators who have felt this acutely is to delve deeper 42 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 3: into it, not just look at the government stats, but 43 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 3: look at the broader information that's available at a national 44 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 3: level and at a territory level. So that's why we 45 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 3: commissioned PwC look into this report to say, we think, 46 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 3: because we're in tourism, yep, that tourism is pretty important, 47 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:39,079 Speaker 3: but is it really And so that's what this research 48 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 3: piece was for them to really give us a sense 49 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 3: of where we fit in the economic schemes and importantly 50 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 3: in the social fabric of the territory and Glenn. 51 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,639 Speaker 2: It really has demonstrated, you know, just how much tourism 52 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 2: means to the economy in the Northern Territory and the 53 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 2: social fabric and employment. I mean, when you look at 54 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 2: these numbers in two in nineteen to twenty, fifty five 55 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 2: percent of all jobs in tourism were located outside of Darwin, 56 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 2: compared to the NT average of thirty eight percent. We 57 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 2: also know that tourism provides invaluable social and economic benefits 58 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 2: to our regions and pre COVID nineteen, the tourism industry 59 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 2: generated that tax revenue to government of four hundred and 60 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 2: twenty seven million dollars growing at four point nine percent 61 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:28,359 Speaker 2: since two thousand and eleven. I mean, we know based 62 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:31,640 Speaker 2: on these figures what tourism does for the Northern territory, 63 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 2: So how do we need to get back there and 64 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 2: what do we need to do. 65 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 3: We need to have confidence that investing in marketing the 66 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 3: territory at a domestic and an international level will bring returns. 67 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 3: So from a government level, we're asking the government to 68 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 3: commit to because it's treasury planning time right now, fifty 69 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 3: five million dollars, which is less than two and a 70 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 3: half percent, less than two and a half percent of 71 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 3: the two thousand nine teen income tourism generated, which is 72 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 3: two point six billion dollars. If we can invest that 73 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 3: over the next five years, we feel that there's a 74 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 3: couple of game changes that will be over the next 75 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 3: four years, A couple of game changes in that that 76 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 3: we would be able to see on the other side, 77 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 3: and that means not only more jobs for territorians and 78 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 3: that employment stats a really great stat that we talk 79 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 3: that we found in This was something that I have 80 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 3: to confess I didn't say because we often think about tourism. 81 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 3: I had the majority of jobs will be in Darwin 82 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 3: and our Springs. But in fact, the majority of tourism 83 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 3: employment happens outside of Darwin, and we know that once 84 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,039 Speaker 3: we get in into our regions and our communities, also 85 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 3: that tourism employees are a far higher percentage of territories 86 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 3: in the rest of Australia, particularly amongst Aboriginal territorians. So 87 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:50,919 Speaker 3: it supported the TERSI report that was commissioned by the 88 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 3: government when we were going into this pandemic, and that 89 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 3: found that tourism is the highest job potential creation amongst 90 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 3: all sectors, in particular at outline Aboriginal cultural tourism opportunities 91 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 3: both significant significant economic opportunities, and i'd say which is 92 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 3: the invaluable economic opportunities socially. 93 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 2: And so Glenn obviously tourism operateds tourism top end. Really 94 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 2: calling on the Northern Territory government to invest at fifty 95 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 2: five million dollars per annum over four years. Like you've said, 96 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 2: it's the equivalent to less than two point five percent 97 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:28,040 Speaker 2: of the Northern territories two point six billion dollar pre 98 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 2: COVID visitor economy. So I'm assuming that realistically, you know 99 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:35,839 Speaker 2: what the government has announced so far over the last 100 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 2: week and a half it's really not going to be 101 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 2: enough for us to bounce back. 102 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,720 Speaker 3: It's not. So what we talk about is some stop gap, 103 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 3: welcomed stop gap. Important things are moving quickly, get the 104 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:51,599 Speaker 3: funding out, but that funding is up until the end adjourn. 105 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 3: And if we think about it in a sense of 106 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 3: when we as individuals are thinking about our international holidays 107 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 3: and where we want to go, we're not thinking about well, 108 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 3: possibly some of us are right at the moment, but 109 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 3: in normal times we're thinking we're going to be next year, 110 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 3: in the year after, yeah, thinking about those places we 111 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 3: want to travel to. That's how people in the in 112 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 3: Europe and America think about their travel when they come 113 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 3: thinking about Australia, and in particular when they're thinking at 114 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 3: that time, we need the territory to be on their 115 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 3: agenda front and center. 116 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 2: Well, especially when you're talking about no overseas holiday. You know, 117 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 2: not many of us have the money to just be 118 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 2: able to go, Oh, next month, I'm going to go 119 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 2: to you know, to Europe, or next month if you 120 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 2: live in Europe, I'm going to go to Australia. 121 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 1: It's something that you've got to plan for some time. 122 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 2: Are we as attractive as what we used to be 123 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 2: to those European and other countries, you know, even the 124 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 2: likes of America. I know that in some cases they 125 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:44,839 Speaker 2: sort of refer to us as being like a fortress. 126 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 3: Right now, I think we are. I think I think 127 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,599 Speaker 3: we've got a particularly good brand. We maintained a good 128 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 3: brand internationally. I think, you know, if we think about 129 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 3: as a federal when they put travel bands or travel 130 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 3: advices on certain destinations six months ago, and could we 131 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:08,840 Speaker 3: name those places at six months ago that was named 132 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 3: for No, these things will come and go. If we 133 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 3: think about the in relation to the pandemic, true Australia, 134 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 3: we're still one of the most highly sought after destinations 135 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 3: in Australia. The challenge we've got as a territory is 136 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 3: we're being outspent big time by Victoria, like Queensland, by 137 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 3: New South Wales. And through working with PwC through this 138 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 3: project over the last few months, there's some of the 139 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 3: stats that we were seeing from other states. Every time 140 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 3: I saw the next version or the next input of 141 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 3: data that it changed again. Just two weeks ago, Queensland 142 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 3: government announced a two hundred million dollar fund just to 143 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 3: attract international planes to Queensland. Yeah, the million dollars. 144 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 2: Zaia not market around in Queensland. There's no doubt about that, Glenn. 145 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 2: What is going to happen if we don't see so 146 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 2: serious investment in this space. 147 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 3: Well we'll be left behind as a destination will be 148 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 3: we will be having to find different ways of funding 149 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 3: infrastructure in the territory. Now four hundred and twenty seven 150 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 3: million dollars was this the research found was raised by tourism, 151 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 3: by tourists. By tourists coming here to the territory and 152 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 3: spending their money and having a great time employing locals. 153 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 3: That tax generated was four hundred and twenty seven million dollars. 154 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 3: That's going to that now comes back into the territory 155 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 3: for schools, roads, hospitals. The more tourists that come to 156 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 3: the territory, the less tax territorians have to pay for 157 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 3: us to enjoy the facilities we got. We've seen in 158 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 3: the last week this great new development down at Waterfront 159 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 3: potential right for locals to enjoy that. We need tourists 160 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 3: and that's a really good example of what needs to happen. 161 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 3: So not funding tourism means we fall behind, not only 162 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 3: in employment of people and tour operators, but as territorians, 163 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 3: the livability of our destination, of our place and where 164 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 3: we love fall behind the roads, the infrastructure around national 165 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 3: parks as well things like that. 166 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:16,679 Speaker 1: Well, Glenn Henley, we are going to have to leave 167 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 1: it there. 168 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 2: I always, I always appreciate your time and enjoy our discussions. 169 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 2: We will talk more about this, and thank you so 170 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 2: very much for making us aware of this research. 171 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: And let's see where the government goes with that. Great 172 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 1: thank you, thank you, Thanks Glenn.