1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: Well, I think we all understand that the tourism industry 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:05,680 Speaker 1: in Alice Springs is certainly going through a tough time. 3 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 1: They're having to rebuild following the COVID pandemic of course, 4 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: and then impacted by the crime crisis, which attracted national 5 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: media attention, something we've spoken a lot about on this show. Now, well, 6 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:21,120 Speaker 1: some including the Tourism Minister, have been spooking strong booking 7 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: numbers for experiences and events. Others are reporting ongoing cancelations. 8 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: Now Daniel Rochford, the CEO of Tourism Central Australia, joins 9 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 1: me on the line. 10 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:34,920 Speaker 2: Good morning, Daniel, Good morning Katie, Good morning to you listen. 11 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: Apologizing that we're running late as well, Daniel, thanks so 12 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: much for still being able to join us. Good How 13 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: is the tourism sector going at the moment in Central Australia. 14 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:49,160 Speaker 2: Look, it's still fragile, Katie, and for the reasons you've 15 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:53,560 Speaker 2: just mentioned. You know, we're still you know, just coming 16 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 2: off the back of COVID and you know what was 17 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 2: straight into this what could only be described as a 18 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 2: fist or negative national media on our region. There are 19 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 2: people right across the country and you know, even some 20 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 2: people overseas that are reevaluating their visits to Central Australia 21 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 2: based on this negative media. And that's the feedback that 22 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 2: my members are telling me that they're getting a lot 23 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 2: of inquiry about whether it's safe to come to our 24 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 2: springs and you know, people evaluating whether actually going to 25 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 2: come or not. 26 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: I guess for a while there, Daniel, it wasn't you know, 27 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: it wasn't that safe from a lot, like from a 28 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: lot of people's perspective. Is it feeling as though it 29 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 1: is more so at the moment. 30 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 2: A little bit, Katie, I'd have to say it has 31 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 2: has certainly improved, but you know, we're still seeing a 32 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 2: lot of sort of nighttime you know, just to give 33 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 2: your listeners a perspective, our information center here has been 34 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 2: broken into twice in the last week, so you know 35 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 2: there's still stuff happening. It's not gone completely away, but 36 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 2: you know, certainly that national media has died down, which 37 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:09,119 Speaker 2: has certainly a positive from our industry's perspective. 38 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: Now, tell me, are you able to sort of quantify 39 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:15,799 Speaker 1: in monetary terms just what a loss it has been 40 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: in recent times or you know the way that things 41 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 1: are tracking. Yeah, Look, in. 42 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 2: Terms of the events that we have actually formerly lost, 43 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:30,519 Speaker 2: so these are mostly conferences or gatherings of associations or events. 44 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 2: You know, we're talking well over the ten million mark 45 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 2: in terms of lost revenue to our regional economy, so 46 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 2: I'm being really conservative with that. I think it's actually 47 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 2: a bit more. But you know, at at very least 48 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 2: it's a loss of ten million dollars in our regional 49 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 2: economy which will be very hard to peg back, and 50 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:50,800 Speaker 2: that's going to be one of the challenges that we 51 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 2: face into the forward year. And you know, we are 52 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 2: in a very fragile position. And look, it's just going 53 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 2: to take one or two little things extra. There's not 54 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 2: been a lot of positivity coming our way if there 55 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 2: are further challenges. You know, we are very much in 56 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 2: a fragile position. 57 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 1: Daniel. Are the booking numbers strong like the Minister is 58 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 1: saying for this year. 59 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 2: I wouldn't call it strong, Katie. I think they're very 60 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 2: you know, there are some members reporting that they're good. 61 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 2: I wouldn't say they're strong in any shape or form. 62 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:33,680 Speaker 2: You know, as you're starting to see, you know, even 63 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 2: many of our events, our first one, which is fab Allus, 64 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 2: which I encourage everyone up in Dawen to come down 65 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 2: and be a part of that amazing event which leverages Priscilla, 66 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 2: Queen of the Desert. This is the thirty nine years 67 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 2: since the making of that movie, and that event really 68 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 2: showcases our region. But they're reporting to me that they've 69 00:03:55,080 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 2: got a significant softening and cancelation of bookings. We no 70 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 2: think would normally have upwards of seven hundred and fifty 71 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 2: bookings when they open their registrations. They only got five 72 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 2: hundred or just over five hundred. So you know, we 73 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:17,720 Speaker 2: are seeing a softening generally of bookings across the region 74 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 2: and that's that's certainly of great concern to us. 75 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:23,839 Speaker 1: We have also heard concerns being raised on the show 76 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 1: as well about the cost of flights to attend events 77 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: like Pachma. What are you hearing on this front and 78 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 1: is that making a difference as well? 79 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 2: Oh, you and I've talked about our issues. You know, 80 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 2: we've had crime and COVID, but that's the other one 81 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 2: is the cost of flight to get in and out 82 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 2: of this town is just astronomical at the moment. And 83 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,719 Speaker 2: if you recall last year Quintus made the announcement, I 84 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 2: think it was about thirty thousand feet lost to us. 85 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 2: There is a change to their scheduling at the moment, 86 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 2: and we're just evaluating what that looks like. But it's 87 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:04,039 Speaker 2: not going It's getting worse, not better. So I should 88 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,720 Speaker 2: be in a position to be able to have more 89 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 2: information very shortly as that's only just hit us. But 90 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 2: I suspect it's all more bad news. 91 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 1: I'll be interested to hear when there is a bit 92 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: of an update, Daniel. We are fast running out of time, 93 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 1: and that is my fault because we're running late. But 94 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 1: we know that the government's rolled out a new ad 95 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 1: campaign well, a new campaign trying to attract domestic and 96 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:29,359 Speaker 1: international tourists. This week they also announced another one million 97 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 1: dollars for a brand and trade campaign. Is it enough? No? 98 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 2: And look at look we welcome the announcement, and look, 99 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:42,359 Speaker 2: you know, we have a frank and open conversation and 100 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 2: dialogue with our government, but this is certainly not enough 101 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 2: to support our industry. You know, we certainly need the government, 102 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:52,840 Speaker 2: both territory and federal governments to be standing up as 103 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,840 Speaker 2: they are standing up on our more societal issues as well. 104 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:59,280 Speaker 2: But look, you know, we need to really face facts 105 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:02,599 Speaker 2: here that we're seeing losses of the in the tens 106 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 2: of millions, and you know, a one million dollar campaign's 107 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 2: not going to cut it, especially when you're seeing the 108 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 2: amount of ads spend that's happening in the other states 109 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:13,840 Speaker 2: and territories. This is just not going to be enough 110 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 2: to really make any traction. And you know some of 111 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 2: the other initiatives are territory wide initiatives, So you know, 112 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 2: the one million dollars for the Visitor Enhancement Program, that's 113 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 2: a territory wide initiative, not a Central Australian initiative. So 114 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:28,479 Speaker 2: I think there's this is a good first step and 115 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:30,839 Speaker 2: we welcome it, but our call to the government is 116 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 2: we need more. 117 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:34,839 Speaker 1: Well, Daniel Rochford, I always appreciate your time. We'll chat 118 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:36,799 Speaker 1: to you again, hopefully when we've got a bit more 119 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 1: sort of detail about what's going on with some of 120 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 1: those flights and things like that. I know we've had 121 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:43,919 Speaker 1: lots of people that are really keen to get to 122 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 1: Alice Springs from up here in Darwin, but when the 123 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: cost of flights is so expensive, jeez, it makes it tough. 124 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 2: Well, it's also for you guys up there, you know, 125 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 2: it's getting more costly for dah than people flying anywhere, 126 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:00,479 Speaker 2: but you add an extra zero for us the whole. 127 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:03,280 Speaker 2: You know that's the challenge and you know it's going 128 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 2: to really strikes at the heart of the livability of 129 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 2: our town as well if you just put tourism to 130 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 2: one side. 131 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're spot on, Daniel. I always appreciate your time. Mate. 132 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for having a chat to us and 133 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 1: we will talk to you again very soon. 134 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, chairs thank you.