The Northern Territory has stepped up its tourism activities, with new virtual tools and pop-up events to secure more bookings from Sydney and other key areas in Australia.
NT is the latest destination to tap into the virtual world, with plans to give travel agents a new online tool where they can experience the Northern Territory from their desktop, tablet or mobile.
‘Virtual Journeys’ is a website that will introduce agents to the destination’s experiences and activities through video footage and images.
It will officially be launched at this week’s NT Muster, which is being held in Sydney on Wednesday and Melbourne on Thursday.
“Research shows that almost half of NT holiday-makers are influenced directly by the travel agent network in their decision making so this is a fabulous initiative which we hope will lead to an increase in visitation and spending.”
Adam Giles Chief Minister
‘Virtual Journeys’ features more than 200 products, including many of the businesses and attractions that have benefited from the Tourism Infrastructure Grant program over the past year.
Additionally, agents will be able to use the site to see key tourist hotspots and get contact details for each operator.
Virtual journeys is one of numerous new strategies aimed at returning the Territory tourism industry to growth, helping develop Northern Australia and delivering a $2.2 billion visitor economy by 2020.
This week, Tourism NT set up a waterhole Martin Place, Sydney, giving workers to hold baby crocodiles, try some bush tucker and experience the outback on their lunch breaks.
As well as giving Sydneysiders a taste of the NT, the two-day ‘Do the NT’ pop-up was designed to convert dreams of visiting the destination into an actual booking.
Tourism NT brings The Waterhole to Martin Place in Sydney.
Tourism NT’s latest research shows 41 percent of travellers from Sydney are putting their dreams to visit the NT on hold and instead of booking are adding it to their to do list for ‘one day’.
The tourism bureau says around 4.8 percent of Sydneysiders keen on the NT are actually getting around to visiting.
Surprise Sydneysiders! There’s a camel in Martin Place.
This is despite New South Wales being the NT’s biggest domestic market, making up 34 percent of the domestic share for the year to September 2014 with around 12,400 visitors.
Victorians are the state’s second largest domestic market, with some 9,871 visitors during the same period.
Bush tucker anyone?
Tourism NT’s Chief Minister, Adam Giles said the pop-up gives Sydneysiders a chance to experience the NT and sample some of the unique ‘Territory flavours’ available on a holiday to the destination.
“Events like this are about convincing people to stop putting off their visit and come and ‘Do the NT’ today.”
Adam Giles Chief Minister
Sixteen holiday operators were also in attendance to showcase their products and offer holiday packages, while Today Show host Lisa Wilkinson stopped by for a pic with a baby crocodile (see main image).
Sydneysiders falling in love with NT.
Lisa said the baby crocodiles, bush tucker, waterholes, camping and outback experience is what the NT is all about.
“[It’s about] embracing those activities we’ve long had on our must-do list but are yet to do, in one of the most exciting regions of Australia.”
Lisa Wilkinson, Today Show host
