Territory Stories

Budget Paper No.6 1997/98 Northern Territory Economy

Details:

Title

Budget Paper No.6 1997/98 Northern Territory Economy

Other title

Tabled Paper 3223

Collection

Tabled Papers for 7th Assembly 1994 - 1997; Tabled papers; ParliamentNT

Date

1997-04-30

Notes

Made available by the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory under Standing Order 240. Where copyright subsists with a third party it remains with the original owner and permission may be required to reuse the material.

Language

English

Subject

Tabled papers

File type

application/pdf

Use

Copyright

Copyright owner

See publication

License

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1968A00063

Parent handle

https://hdl.handle.net/10070/289257

Citation address

https://hdl.handle.net/10070/404114

Page content

for further growth based on the demonstrated commitment shown by the Territory Government and private operators to develop the industry and the confidence of investors as evidenced by infrastructure developments. The Territory tourism industry has a distinct peak season from June to September, coinciding with the dry season. In order to raise the level of visitation outside this period, the Northern Territory Tourist Commission (NTTC) has conducted a Tropical Summer advertising campaign over the past two wet seasons. This campaign has proved to be a success, with tourist accommodation statistics published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for the December quarter 1996 recording the highest December quarter room occupancy rates since 1980, and despite a large increase in the supply of rooms over the year. The Northern Territory Travel Monitor Summary Report 1995-96 prepared for the NTTC shows that the total number of overnight visitors travelling within the Territory increased by 11.0% (to 1.3 million) in 1995-96 compared with the figure a year earlier. This increase was the net result of large increases in overseas visitors (up 32.9%) and interstate visitors (up 26.5%) offset by a 17.9% decline in Territorians travelling overnight within the Territory. This decline may reflect improved transport services leading to reduced travel times. During 1995-96, visitors are estimated to have spent $718.4 million in the Northern Territory on accommodation, tours, food, souvenirs and other goods and services. This represents an 8.0% increase on 1994-95. Over this period, expenditure by overseas visitors and interstate visitors both increased strongly by 17.8% and 14.8% respectively. Expenditure by Territorians declined by 27.6%, after a sharp increase of 36.8% in the previous year. Similarly nights spent in the Territory by overseas visitors and interstate visitors increased during 1995-96, while visitor nights for Territorians decreased. Although interstate visitors continue to make up the largest component of demand for accommodation in the Territory, future growth in accommodation demand is likely to be underpinned by the international market. 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 91-92 92-93 93-94 94-95 95-96 Tourism Expenditure Overseas Interstate Northern Territory Source: NTTM Summary Report 1995-96 $ million Figure 9.2 Tourism 51