1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,239 Speaker 1: Now, the Northern Territory government has been sprouting that tourism 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: has been going well in the last financial year, with 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: visitors injecting three billion dollars into the Northern Territory's economy. Now, 4 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: it claims that expenditures up by forty two percent on 5 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: the previous year to June, when tourists spent two point 6 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:18,600 Speaker 1: one billion dollars. That's according to the latest national and 7 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: international Visitor Survey results. 8 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 2: But it's not an accurate reflection. 9 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:26,479 Speaker 1: According to some in the industry, and the owner of 10 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: the tour to Wallaroo Tours and Darwin Tours, Karen Marchant, 11 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: joins me now to share her perspective. 12 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 2: Good morning to you, Karen. 13 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 3: Good morning Katie. 14 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for your time this morning. 15 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: Karen. 16 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 2: What has the last financial year been like for you? 17 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 3: Really tough? Really really tough. 18 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 2: Tell us why. 19 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 3: Look, the visitor numbers has been up in some areas, 20 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 3: but the spend of the visitors that are coming has 21 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 3: not been up. It's been way down. 22 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:08,200 Speaker 2: Why do you reckon that is, Karen? 23 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: Are they coming from different places or what do you 24 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:12,400 Speaker 1: think the cause. 25 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:12,680 Speaker 2: Of that is? 26 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:17,919 Speaker 3: I said, the disposable income that people have at the moment. 27 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 3: There's Last year was an incredible year. But our industry 28 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 3: has always been a tough industry to be in because 29 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 3: we are affected by all sorts of different things, whether 30 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 3: it be worldwide events or events in Australia, So the 31 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 3: numbers go up and down and the span goes up 32 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 3: and down. But this year has been been incredibly tough. 33 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 3: So Karen talks for those that are in the two side. 34 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 1: Of things, So can you give us a bit of 35 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: perspective in the sense that you know, like you've said 36 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 1: that there's still quite a few touris visiting, but they're 37 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: really not spending the money that you've seen in previous years. 38 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 3: No, they're not, and that the numbers that are booking 39 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:13,399 Speaker 3: tours is this year is way down. And it's not 40 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:16,679 Speaker 3: just my business. I have spoken to other businesses. We're 41 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 3: all small businesses in the territory and we're family businesses, 42 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 3: so we are affected when the numbers aren't there. And 43 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 3: I have spoken to other operators as well have said 44 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 3: that the number of tours are sending out isn't as 45 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 3: much as they have in the past, the numbers that 46 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 3: they're carrying isn't as much as in the past. Either, 47 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 3: but the cost of running tours has just gone and 48 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 3: gone through the roots. 49 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, well it would. 50 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: You know, I'm presuming that the cost of everything's gone up, 51 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: particularly when you look at things like your fuel. 52 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 3: Still's gone up. The cost of providing food for lunches 53 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 3: has gone up, the cost of insurance has gone up, 54 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 3: the cost of of well interstrates have gone up when 55 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 3: we're looking back at twenty nineteen before COVID. But what 56 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:19,920 Speaker 3: has happened is we had a really good industry before 57 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 3: COVID and we lost a lot of our We lost 58 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 3: a lot of our momentum during COVID, and it takes 59 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:30,679 Speaker 3: a world to git back. We are a bucket list destination, 60 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 3: but we're an extremely expensive destination to get to. Can 61 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 3: you and all of these things that up? 62 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: It does, and you know, like the point that you've 63 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 1: just made there about us being an extremely expensive destination 64 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: to get to your spot on you know, we just 65 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 1: had an email come through a bit earlier this morning. 66 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: Someone's saying, you know, for them to travel to Central 67 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: Australia and the cost that it was going to be 68 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: comparatively to going to someone like but somewhere like Barley. 69 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: It's a real shame that we're not being treated fairly 70 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: by our airlines. 71 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 3: No we're not. And look and cost of fuel has 72 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,320 Speaker 3: also impacted those that are traveling through us by road. 73 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:22,160 Speaker 3: Crime Yes, in the territory is not helping either. The 74 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:27,479 Speaker 3: word out there, particularly those that are traveling by road. 75 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 3: They're asking how safe places are before they even get there. 76 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 3: That never used to be a conversation in the past. 77 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 2: No, well even then as well. 78 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 1: Hearing from Tourism Central Australia's Daniel Rochford just a bit 79 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: earlier this morning, him saying that there is an accommodation 80 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:48,799 Speaker 1: provider in Tenant Creek that has been broken into thirty 81 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:55,480 Speaker 1: times in three weeks. Unbelievable stuff and that is an 82 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 1: impact that will affect all of us people who traveled 83 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 1: who the Northern turch. 84 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 3: You don't realize how far the distance is between Darwin 85 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 3: and our springs and Darwen and Tenant Creek and down 86 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 3: and Catherine. They really have no concept. They think it's 87 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 3: just down the road. 88 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 2: Can you tell me in terms like for you what 89 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 2: kind of you know? Have you sort of got. 90 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,600 Speaker 1: Numbers in terms of breaking it down to just how 91 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: big an impact it's having for your business. 92 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:32,239 Speaker 3: I've I've been in the industry for over thirty years, 93 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 3: so I have a well established business. The numbers that 94 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:42,280 Speaker 3: I'm sending on bigger tours and the higher cost tours, 95 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 3: the numbers are certainly much less than in the past, 96 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:53,480 Speaker 3: the numbers traveling on the shorter tours. People can afford 97 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 3: the lesser costs, so they're choosing to take the cheaper 98 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 3: options and those operate is out there that are a 99 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 3: cheaper option. And I'm at the top end of my 100 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 3: part of the industry, but I can't drop my price, 101 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 3: not with the costs and the amount of time that 102 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 3: we have to make. Twelve months worth of income is 103 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 3: getting shorter and shorter and shorter. 104 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:28,799 Speaker 1: Karen, What do you think needs to happen to turn 105 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 1: things around for operators like yourself. 106 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:36,480 Speaker 3: There's a few things that I noticed this year that 107 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:41,280 Speaker 3: haven't that has didn't happen, and that was we had 108 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 3: a lot of major events that happened throughout the year. 109 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 3: We've got space in the grass, we have the v eights, 110 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:54,359 Speaker 3: we have down cup. I noticed this year there was 111 00:06:54,480 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 3: next to no pre and post events touring. People came, 112 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 3: they went to the event that they wanted to go 113 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:07,160 Speaker 3: to and then they left. 114 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 1: So they're not sticking around and they're not doing all 115 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 1: of the you know, like tours like your own and 116 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: other wonderful things that we want them to do while 117 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: they're in the territory to keep that money going into 118 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 1: the economy. That is right, So is there something we 119 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: could do a bit differently, Karen or you know, what 120 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: are your thoughts because you have been operating in the 121 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: territory for such a long period of time. 122 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 3: I would like to see some marketing towards the Australian 123 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 3: market that does have money. Because if you are a 124 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 3: family with high interest rates and a big mortgage, you're 125 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 3: not going to be able to do toward to do 126 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 3: that big family holiday anymore. But you've got a group 127 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 3: that are retired or retired that don't rely on on 128 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 3: having that mortgage, and I don't think we're targeting that 129 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:13,119 Speaker 3: group enough to get them here to put their money 130 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 3: into our community. 131 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 1: Well, Karen, I want to. 132 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 3: Sect some tourism is massive. 133 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 2: Well, this is the thing. 134 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 1: Once you get people here, it makes such a big difference, 135 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 1: doesn't it. I mean, when they're here, if we're able 136 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 1: to then sort of to market ourselves and market all 137 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: the wonderful things that you can see and do. You 138 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 1: would hope that it's you know, that that we keep 139 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 1: them here that bit longer and they spend their money. 140 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 3: And they go home and they talk about how great 141 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 3: it was. Yeah, Well then send others that are thinking 142 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 3: of coming. 143 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, And that's a really big thing, isn't it as well? Karen? 144 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 2: Is that you know, you need that word of mouth. 145 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,440 Speaker 1: You need people to have a great experience while they're here, 146 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: which is where I guess that the tough part right 147 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 1: now around that crime can have an impact. 148 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 3: It does. 149 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, Karen, I really appreciate you having a chat to 150 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 1: us this morning, and it's always good to speak to you. 151 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: Please keep in contact with us, you know, like I 152 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 1: obviously don't know exactly what is going on in the 153 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: tourism industry, so you guys are our eyes and ears letting. 154 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 2: Us know what's happening. Thanks Katie, Thank you, Thanks Karen. 155 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 2: I appreciate it.