Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's been a big week for the Northern Territory tourism industry,
(00:03):
with the inaugural Destination in Tea conference last week alongside
the launch of the government's Visitor Economy Strategy for twenty
thirty two. It sets out an ambitious goal to grow
the visitor economy to two point two billion dollars. Now,
Head of Tourism Central Australia, Daniel Rochford, joins me on
the line. Get a Daniel.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Morning, Katie, and good morning to you listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Now, Daniel, you've just arrived home, as I understand it,
after a week here in the North. How was that
week of events?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Well, apart from the fact how do you guys live
in that heat? I was lovely to get back to
the beautiful twenty five degrees of hours yesterday. But you
live in enough.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
You live in an oven, We live in a sauna.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
So true, so true. But look, you know it was
a great week. It was really all inspiring to have
the whole industry across the Northern Territory come to Darwin
to sit together over the various different activities that the
tourist Northern Territory have organized. You know, it was good
to share what the South and the North were doing.
(01:11):
But it was also great to be part of the
launch of the new visitor Economy strategy because that's been
what we've been looking for and what we've been asking
for government to do is to have a united strategy
that we can focus in on. We've got a target
that's very clear, very ambitious, but achievable, and also some
(01:33):
key objectives that we're working towards, and you know, now
is the time where we need to unite as an
industry kind as a pack team territory focusing on getting
those outcomes achieved.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
I mean, it is an ambitious goal, growing the economy
to two point two billion dollars. Daniel, was there much
detail given about how we might do this, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Look, it's this is still a process going through and
the next process is developing the sort of action plan
from the strategy, and that's again going to be done
in collaboration with industry and to the regions. But you know,
it's clearly going to be focusing on some core areas
(02:16):
such as encouraging more product and supporting the existing operations,
dealing with the global perception of the Northern Territory and
how we amplify all the great things that make up
the territories tourism industry to get that connectivity piece, because
you know, the big thing is this government has done
(02:36):
a lot of work to get those flights in from
China and Malaysia and other parts of Asia. But we've
now got to fill those seats and that's going to
be a big job. You know. Infrastructure, you know, I'll
harp on about this day and night, but we've got
to seal the Marinni Loop road down here in Central Australia.
And you know, I'm sure there's some big infrastructure projects
(02:58):
that need to be worked on at the top end. Well,
those things that need to be done, and we need
to capitalize on opportunities. You know, we've got the Olympics
in twenty thirty two, but a big one for the
Northern Territory in twenty twenty eight is we have the
total solar eclipse coming traversing straight through the Northern Territory.
We're expecting tens of thousands of people to come to
(03:18):
that event.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
So when's that happening?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Tell me more July and twenty twenty eight. We have
the longest period of the eclipse happens in the Northern
Territory literally goes right over the Devil's Marble south of
Tenant Creek, but it starts up at the top of
Western Australia and then heads over you know, the guts
(03:40):
of the Northern Territory across the Plenty Highway. So you know,
we're expecting you know where. You know, there's a lot
of preparatory work that's been gone into this thus far.
I'm being told the gang's been charted, there's tense cities
being planned for, bus charters being organized. There's we've got
I think five or six private jets coming into Tenant Creek.
(04:03):
So yeah, it's going to be a big event. And
that's one of quite a few things. You know. Next
year we've got, of course, got the fiftieth anniversary of
the Think Desert Race. So you know, as we sort
of go towards twenty thirty two, which is the life
of this visitor economy strategy, there's going to be a
lot of pinch points where we're going to be focusing
(04:24):
our attention on events is such a critical piece and
I think the cornerstone of the major change that's happened
is that the government's made the decision to bring major
events he to into the Tourism Northern Territory. Now we
have a new agency Tourism Events Northern Territory and growth.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Is that a good thing, Daniel from your perspective?
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Yeah? Absolutely. I remember the first discussion that Patrick Betford
and I had with the then opposition as a spokesperson
for terism Mary Clair Bootfe about five years ago, was
if there was one thing you could do if when
you become ministers this and to Mary Clair's credit, she's
achieved it.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Hey, over the past few years. We know for you
guys in Allie Springs it's been you know, like it's
been a tumultuous time to put it mildly, certainly with
you know, with the crime and that kind of thing,
and the decrease now that we're seeing when it comes
to those crime stats. What's the feedback then from your members?
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Yeah, it's positive. We're heading in the right direction. Are
we there yet? No? And I think there's still even
the government's willing to admit that they're still you know,
they're still working through things. But it is heading in
the right direction. There's no doubt about it. You know,
there's a sense of a sense of positivity coming back
into the tourism industry for the first time in a
(05:46):
long time. Katie, I'm getting people coming to me saying,
you know, I'm interested in starting a tourism business. So
you know, that just says, you know, there's some green
buds of optimism starting to fallm up and you know what, what,
I've been in some really dark days over the last
few years, but you know, we know where were our
(06:07):
stress points are. You know, we're coming into one hour
of January in February. You know, that's traditionally a very
difficult time for crime and antisocial behavior. But my you know,
we're getting briefings. You know, I heard from the police
commissioner last week about their strategies here in Alice Springs,
and you know where they seem to be getting their
heads around working through that. And you know there's a
(06:29):
lot of the federal funds that through Marion Scrimjaw that's
starting to flow through as well. So you know, we're
pretty optimistic about where things are heading. Yeah, you know,
after what has been some challenging years where we've got
a bit of a light at the end of the tunnel.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Yeah, I hope, So, I hope. So for you guys, hey,
before I let you go, I know Quantas just recently
announced some sale fees to Alice Springs as well. How
is that heading into the summer months.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, great, and what we needed more than ever. Obviously
we've got the best kept season campaign that's running in
compara in partnership with Tourism Northern Tourism Events Northern Territory
and Tourism top End, so that this is part of
that campaign and you know, and the more we can
encourage people to come to the Northern Territory at this
(07:19):
time with cheaper affairs, you know, we're going to get
bums on seats and there's no better time to come
to the Northern Territory I think. You know, you've got
less crowds. You're seeing the magic of Laru without the
tens the crowd. You know, pricing on ground is a
little bit cheaper over summer too, so you know, there's
(07:40):
a great term, no better time to come and experience
the majesty of all the Northern Territory at this time.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Oh yeah, it is a beautiful place, no doubt about that.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Well.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Daniel Rochford Tourism Central Australia CEO. Always great to speak
to you, just really quick before I let you go.
How'd you guys go at the Brolgers? How did Central
Australia go at the Brolgers on the weekends?
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Yeah? Really, well it was a great night. There's a
suffice to say, a flocker. Brogers flew back down to
the Central Australia on yesterday's plane, so I think. Yeah.
Ulary Segue got to awards as Rock Resort, a cell
out back retreat Daniel and Anthony Hayes. They have they
(08:22):
do an amazing experience just south of Tea Tree. They
got award for Hosted Accommodation Safari Lodge in Tennant Creek.
An amazing place if you're ever wanted to say in
Tennant Creek. So a Safari Lodge. Tourism Central Australia. One
Best Marketing for our stories from the Heart campaign, which
was very special for us. Yeah it was good, good
(08:44):
good night. And Earth Sanctuary and Intrepid also got awards.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
All good stuff well, Daniel Rochford, lovely to catch up
with you as always, Thanks so much for your time
this morning.
It's been a big week for the Northern Territory tourism industry,
(00:03):
with the inaugural Destination in Tea conference last week alongside
the launch of the government's Visitor Economy Strategy for twenty
thirty two. It sets out an ambitious goal to grow
the visitor economy to two point two billion dollars. Now,
Head of Tourism Central Australia, Daniel Rochford, joins me on
the line. Get a Daniel.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Morning, Katie, and good morning to you listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Now, Daniel, you've just arrived home, as I understand it,
after a week here in the North. How was that
week of events?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Well, apart from the fact how do you guys live
in that heat? I was lovely to get back to
the beautiful twenty five degrees of hours yesterday. But you
live in enough.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
You live in an oven, We live in a sauna.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
So true, so true. But look, you know it was
a great week. It was really all inspiring to have
the whole industry across the Northern Territory come to Darwin
to sit together over the various different activities that the
tourist Northern Territory have organized. You know, it was good
to share what the South and the North were doing.
(01:11):
But it was also great to be part of the
launch of the new visitor Economy strategy because that's been
what we've been looking for and what we've been asking
for government to do is to have a united strategy
that we can focus in on. We've got a target
that's very clear, very ambitious, but achievable, and also some
(01:33):
key objectives that we're working towards, and you know, now
is the time where we need to unite as an
industry kind as a pack team territory focusing on getting
those outcomes achieved.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
I mean, it is an ambitious goal, growing the economy
to two point two billion dollars. Daniel, was there much
detail given about how we might do this, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Look, it's this is still a process going through and
the next process is developing the sort of action plan
from the strategy, and that's again going to be done
in collaboration with industry and to the regions. But you know,
it's clearly going to be focusing on some core areas
(02:16):
such as encouraging more product and supporting the existing operations,
dealing with the global perception of the Northern Territory and
how we amplify all the great things that make up
the territories tourism industry to get that connectivity piece, because
you know, the big thing is this government has done
(02:36):
a lot of work to get those flights in from
China and Malaysia and other parts of Asia. But we've
now got to fill those seats and that's going to
be a big job. You know. Infrastructure, you know, I'll
harp on about this day and night, but we've got
to seal the Marinni Loop road down here in Central Australia.
And you know, I'm sure there's some big infrastructure projects
(02:58):
that need to be worked on at the top end. Well,
those things that need to be done, and we need
to capitalize on opportunities. You know, we've got the Olympics
in twenty thirty two, but a big one for the
Northern Territory in twenty twenty eight is we have the
total solar eclipse coming traversing straight through the Northern Territory.
We're expecting tens of thousands of people to come to
(03:18):
that event.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
So when's that happening?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Tell me more July and twenty twenty eight. We have
the longest period of the eclipse happens in the Northern
Territory literally goes right over the Devil's Marble south of
Tenant Creek, but it starts up at the top of
Western Australia and then heads over you know, the guts
(03:40):
of the Northern Territory across the Plenty Highway. So you know,
we're expecting you know where. You know, there's a lot
of preparatory work that's been gone into this thus far.
I'm being told the gang's been charted, there's tense cities
being planned for, bus charters being organized. There's we've got
I think five or six private jets coming into Tenant Creek.
(04:03):
So yeah, it's going to be a big event. And
that's one of quite a few things. You know. Next
year we've got, of course, got the fiftieth anniversary of
the Think Desert Race. So you know, as we sort
of go towards twenty thirty two, which is the life
of this visitor economy strategy, there's going to be a
lot of pinch points where we're going to be focusing
(04:24):
our attention on events is such a critical piece and
I think the cornerstone of the major change that's happened
is that the government's made the decision to bring major
events he to into the Tourism Northern Territory. Now we
have a new agency Tourism Events Northern Territory and growth.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Is that a good thing, Daniel from your perspective?
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Yeah? Absolutely. I remember the first discussion that Patrick Betford
and I had with the then opposition as a spokesperson
for terism Mary Clair Bootfe about five years ago, was
if there was one thing you could do if when
you become ministers this and to Mary Clair's credit, she's
achieved it.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Hey, over the past few years. We know for you
guys in Allie Springs it's been you know, like it's
been a tumultuous time to put it mildly, certainly with
you know, with the crime and that kind of thing,
and the decrease now that we're seeing when it comes
to those crime stats. What's the feedback then from your members?
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Yeah, it's positive. We're heading in the right direction. Are
we there yet? No? And I think there's still even
the government's willing to admit that they're still you know,
they're still working through things. But it is heading in
the right direction. There's no doubt about it. You know,
there's a sense of a sense of positivity coming back
into the tourism industry for the first time in a
(05:46):
long time. Katie, I'm getting people coming to me saying,
you know, I'm interested in starting a tourism business. So
you know, that just says, you know, there's some green
buds of optimism starting to fallm up and you know what, what,
I've been in some really dark days over the last
few years, but you know, we know where were our
(06:07):
stress points are. You know, we're coming into one hour
of January in February. You know, that's traditionally a very
difficult time for crime and antisocial behavior. But my you know,
we're getting briefings. You know, I heard from the police
commissioner last week about their strategies here in Alice Springs,
and you know where they seem to be getting their
heads around working through that. And you know there's a
(06:29):
lot of the federal funds that through Marion Scrimjaw that's
starting to flow through as well. So you know, we're
pretty optimistic about where things are heading. Yeah, you know,
after what has been some challenging years where we've got
a bit of a light at the end of the tunnel.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Yeah, I hope, So, I hope. So for you guys, hey,
before I let you go, I know Quantas just recently
announced some sale fees to Alice Springs as well. How
is that heading into the summer months.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, great, and what we needed more than ever. Obviously
we've got the best kept season campaign that's running in
compara in partnership with Tourism Northern Tourism Events Northern Territory
and Tourism top End, so that this is part of
that campaign and you know, and the more we can
encourage people to come to the Northern Territory at this
(07:19):
time with cheaper affairs, you know, we're going to get
bums on seats and there's no better time to come
to the Northern Territory I think. You know, you've got
less crowds. You're seeing the magic of Laru without the
tens the crowd. You know, pricing on ground is a
little bit cheaper over summer too, so you know, there's
(07:40):
a great term, no better time to come and experience
the majesty of all the Northern Territory at this time.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Oh yeah, it is a beautiful place, no doubt about that.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Well.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Daniel Rochford Tourism Central Australia CEO. Always great to speak
to you, just really quick before I let you go.
How'd you guys go at the Brolgers? How did Central
Australia go at the Brolgers on the weekends?
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Yeah? Really, well it was a great night. There's a
suffice to say, a flocker. Brogers flew back down to
the Central Australia on yesterday's plane, so I think. Yeah.
Ulary Segue got to awards as Rock Resort, a cell
out back retreat Daniel and Anthony Hayes. They have they
(08:22):
do an amazing experience just south of Tea Tree. They
got award for Hosted Accommodation Safari Lodge in Tennant Creek.
An amazing place if you're ever wanted to say in
Tennant Creek. So a Safari Lodge. Tourism Central Australia. One
Best Marketing for our stories from the Heart campaign, which
was very special for us. Yeah it was good, good
(08:44):
good night. And Earth Sanctuary and Intrepid also got awards.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
All good stuff well, Daniel Rochford, lovely to catch up
with you as always, Thanks so much for your time
this morning.
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