April 29, 2026 • 8 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now we know that all eyes are on Alice Springs
(00:02):
at the moment as the search for little Sharon continues.
Now joining us on the line to speak about a
new tourism experience is Daniel Rochford, the CEO of Tourism
Central Australia. Good morning to you, Daniel.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Good morning Katie, and good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Now, Daniel, obviously we've got you on to talk tourism,
but it's hard for anyone in the Northern Territory at
the moment to not well think about anything much else
besides little Sharon. How are the people of Alice Springs going?
How are things in Alice Springs more.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Broadly, Ah, Katie, We're all feeling it as you guys are.
To add a hearts with the family and we just
so just praying that Sharon comes home back to her family.
And you know, I'm literally hearing the helicopters overhead at
(00:57):
the moment, you know, all is being done to find Sharon,
and you know, I'm just so like the community has
really come to the fore, and unfortunately it's in these
difficult circumstances. You see, the best in communities like that
we have here in our springs, and I think over
(01:18):
one hundred people have turned out today to help police
and emergency services do research that's required. So yeah, look,
we're all feeling it.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Yeah, it is a phenomenal effort by the community in
terms of everybody getting together to try and find this
little girl, Daniel. I'd imagine there's a lot of tourists
in town still as well. Do people sort of have
a bit of an understanding of what's happening.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Yeah, indeed, and I think everyone's who's talking about it.
It's obviously very prominent on all our social media feeds
here locally in the media. You know, I'm hearing reports
today of visitors turning up at six a m. This
morning presenting themselves to help out in the search.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
So it's not just you.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Know, it's not just the locals, it's you know, it's
our visitors also pitching in. So but huge, you know,
thank you to everyone who's doing that. I think it's really,
you know, just a real sign of the spirit of
our beautiful town.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Yeah, yes, sport On and so so you've literally got
visitors to town that are also pitching in to help.
I mean that's a real like, it's a real sign
of the Aussie spirit as well, I reckon and people
wanting to help one another.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah, and I think that's the sense. And we've got local.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Businesses donating food for the search for the people doing
the searching. Yeah, everyone's pitching in and you know, everyone's
doing what they can so in what is a very
difficult situation.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
It is.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
It is such a difficult situation. And Daniel, obviously I
didn't get you on to talk about that. I do
want to talk to you about this new multi dayble
experience inside Ularu Catejuta National Park. I know that it
has officially launched. There's hopes that it's going to deliver
a major tourism boost to Central Australia. Tell us a
little bit more about this fifty four kilometer will signature walk.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Yeah, it's been put for being presented to us by
the Tasmanian Walking Company, who is obviously one of Australia's,
not of the world's leading walking companies in the tourism space.
It is such an iconic multi day walk between Leru
and Caatejuta. You get visitors who do this walk will
(03:37):
get to experience so much, not only just between the
two landscapes of such icons as Earl and Cajuta, but
be able to be in the natural landscape, engage with
the local undernow people. The sort of cabins that they've
prepared really the best you can get in walking the
(04:01):
plunge pools that people will be able to have a
soaca after a long day walking. But I guess the
thing here, Katie, is, as we've seen with the Larapina Trail,
walking is such a huge opportunity for Central Australia to
take advantage of the market internationally is growing exponentially and
(04:21):
people are looking for iconic experiences.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
And I was in Europe.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
A couple of months ago now and the Tasmanian Walking
Company we're talking to Europeans on that trip, and you know,
there was such a huge interest in walking experiences, not
just this one that's just launched, but of course our
iconic Larapina Trail. So I think the future is looking
very good for us. It's such a you know, people
(04:49):
are looking to get disconnected and do multi day walking
experiences and I think the market is just growing day
by day.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Well, if you're a big crazy like me, as well done,
your people love it. Like if there's a running event
or something as well that's you know, that's associated with
these big walks or with these trails.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Yeah, I couldn't you know. Of course earlier it was
home to the Outback Marathon as well, so you know
there's there's you know, I think we're hopeful that we'll
see another multi day walker around King's Canyon Wataka roll
out in the game in the coming years, which is
something that the Northern Churchy government slaid away. You know,
(05:32):
we're started to see some real green buds of optimism
come back into tourism.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Katie.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
You know, you and I have had a lot of challenges,
sharing some of the challenges we've had, but you know,
the Nink and Ninu Center reopened after a few years
closed in Tenant Creek yesterday I had, you know, we've
just had Outback Horse Tracks, a new business that's just
open there, and our Springs doing day in multi day
(06:00):
horse trek experiences. The old al Tounga pub out in
the East McDonald's has reopened. You know, there's that air
of optimism again starting to creep back in, and yeah,
we're just really excited that the best days will cerdainly
lie ahead.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
For our region.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Yeah, that is good to hear. Now tell me we
know that that obviously the Northern Territory and the federal
governments are going to be handing down their budgets as
well over the coming days and weeks. Is there anything
that you're really hoping for tourism wise, Well.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
We suddenly calling have been calling for a fairly significant
increase in the in funding for the national parks estate.
You know, national parks and our tourism experiences are such interwoven,
and you know it is such an important thing for governments,
(06:53):
the Northern Territory government in particular, to be investing in
our national parks right across the Northern Territory, certainly from
a Central Australia perspective. You know, our key icon parks
need more investment. You know, we had the very embarrassing
situation just a couple of weeks ago where a visitor
you had a situation where should collapse through a toilet
(07:16):
seat in our national park doney, and you know that
sort of stuff. You know, we need to be making
sure our infrastructure is well class and you know that's
suddenly our major call. You know, we're suddenly always looking
to see increase in marketing spend from tourism events NT
and also in support for the events part of tourism
(07:40):
events NT. So you know, because as we've seen with
places events like the Motocross of Darwin, Parts of Me
here and Think and Red Center, that's you know, major
events are a major driver for visitation to the North.
We obviously need to lend a hand and support our
tourist operators both North and South impacts of floods and
(08:04):
the damages that that's occurred, and we always need to
be making sure that you know, we're putting our best
foot forward.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Yeah, spot on. Well, Daniel, it's always good to catch
up with you. I've no doubt that we'll probably catch
up again. I'm guessing after the budget does get handed down,
if there is a bit in there for tourism. I
know the Minister had joined us on the show a
bit earlier in the week and had spoken about, you know,
some of that funding ten million dollars to go towards
some barbecues, some toilet infrastructure, that sort of thing. So
(08:32):
we'll see exactly where it ends up and how far
it goes.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Yeah, and we appreciate. Yeah, we're certainly very much keen
to see tourism front and center in this budget and
the upcoming budgets.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Well, Daniel, always good to catch up. Sorry man, I've
got a bit of a frog in my throat. Good
to catch up with you this morning, and no doubt
we'll talk to you again soon.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Thanks Katie Chan, thank you.
Now we know that all eyes are on Alice Springs
(00:02):
at the moment as the search for little Sharon continues.
Now joining us on the line to speak about a
new tourism experience is Daniel Rochford, the CEO of Tourism
Central Australia. Good morning to you, Daniel.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Good morning Katie, and good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Now, Daniel, obviously we've got you on to talk tourism,
but it's hard for anyone in the Northern Territory at
the moment to not well think about anything much else
besides little Sharon. How are the people of Alice Springs going?
How are things in Alice Springs more.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Broadly, Ah, Katie, We're all feeling it as you guys are.
To add a hearts with the family and we just
so just praying that Sharon comes home back to her family.
And you know, I'm literally hearing the helicopters overhead at
(00:57):
the moment, you know, all is being done to find Sharon,
and you know, I'm just so like the community has
really come to the fore, and unfortunately it's in these
difficult circumstances. You see, the best in communities like that
we have here in our springs, and I think over
(01:18):
one hundred people have turned out today to help police
and emergency services do research that's required. So yeah, look,
we're all feeling it.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Yeah, it is a phenomenal effort by the community in
terms of everybody getting together to try and find this
little girl, Daniel. I'd imagine there's a lot of tourists
in town still as well. Do people sort of have
a bit of an understanding of what's happening.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Yeah, indeed, and I think everyone's who's talking about it.
It's obviously very prominent on all our social media feeds
here locally in the media. You know, I'm hearing reports
today of visitors turning up at six a m. This
morning presenting themselves to help out in the search.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
So it's not just you.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Know, it's not just the locals, it's you know, it's
our visitors also pitching in. So but huge, you know,
thank you to everyone who's doing that. I think it's really,
you know, just a real sign of the spirit of
our beautiful town.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Yeah, yes, sport On and so so you've literally got
visitors to town that are also pitching in to help.
I mean that's a real like, it's a real sign
of the Aussie spirit as well, I reckon and people
wanting to help one another.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah, and I think that's the sense. And we've got local.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Businesses donating food for the search for the people doing
the searching. Yeah, everyone's pitching in and you know, everyone's
doing what they can so in what is a very
difficult situation.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
It is.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
It is such a difficult situation. And Daniel, obviously I
didn't get you on to talk about that. I do
want to talk to you about this new multi dayble
experience inside Ularu Catejuta National Park. I know that it
has officially launched. There's hopes that it's going to deliver
a major tourism boost to Central Australia. Tell us a
little bit more about this fifty four kilometer will signature walk.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Yeah, it's been put for being presented to us by
the Tasmanian Walking Company, who is obviously one of Australia's,
not of the world's leading walking companies in the tourism space.
It is such an iconic multi day walk between Leru
and Caatejuta. You get visitors who do this walk will
(03:37):
get to experience so much, not only just between the
two landscapes of such icons as Earl and Cajuta, but
be able to be in the natural landscape, engage with
the local undernow people. The sort of cabins that they've
prepared really the best you can get in walking the
(04:01):
plunge pools that people will be able to have a
soaca after a long day walking. But I guess the
thing here, Katie, is, as we've seen with the Larapina Trail,
walking is such a huge opportunity for Central Australia to
take advantage of the market internationally is growing exponentially and
(04:21):
people are looking for iconic experiences.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
And I was in Europe.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
A couple of months ago now and the Tasmanian Walking
Company we're talking to Europeans on that trip, and you know,
there was such a huge interest in walking experiences, not
just this one that's just launched, but of course our
iconic Larapina Trail. So I think the future is looking
very good for us. It's such a you know, people
(04:49):
are looking to get disconnected and do multi day walking
experiences and I think the market is just growing day
by day.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Well, if you're a big crazy like me, as well done,
your people love it. Like if there's a running event
or something as well that's you know, that's associated with
these big walks or with these trails.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Yeah, I couldn't you know. Of course earlier it was
home to the Outback Marathon as well, so you know
there's there's you know, I think we're hopeful that we'll
see another multi day walker around King's Canyon Wataka roll
out in the game in the coming years, which is
something that the Northern Churchy government slaid away. You know,
(05:32):
we're started to see some real green buds of optimism
come back into tourism.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Katie.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
You know, you and I have had a lot of challenges,
sharing some of the challenges we've had, but you know,
the Nink and Ninu Center reopened after a few years
closed in Tenant Creek yesterday I had, you know, we've
just had Outback Horse Tracks, a new business that's just
open there, and our Springs doing day in multi day
(06:00):
horse trek experiences. The old al Tounga pub out in
the East McDonald's has reopened. You know, there's that air
of optimism again starting to creep back in, and yeah,
we're just really excited that the best days will cerdainly
lie ahead.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
For our region.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Yeah, that is good to hear. Now tell me we
know that that obviously the Northern Territory and the federal
governments are going to be handing down their budgets as
well over the coming days and weeks. Is there anything
that you're really hoping for tourism wise, Well.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
We suddenly calling have been calling for a fairly significant
increase in the in funding for the national parks estate.
You know, national parks and our tourism experiences are such interwoven,
and you know it is such an important thing for governments,
(06:53):
the Northern Territory government in particular, to be investing in
our national parks right across the Northern Territory, certainly from
a Central Australia perspective. You know, our key icon parks
need more investment. You know, we had the very embarrassing
situation just a couple of weeks ago where a visitor
you had a situation where should collapse through a toilet
(07:16):
seat in our national park doney, and you know that
sort of stuff. You know, we need to be making
sure our infrastructure is well class and you know that's
suddenly our major call. You know, we're suddenly always looking
to see increase in marketing spend from tourism events NT
and also in support for the events part of tourism
(07:40):
events NT. So you know, because as we've seen with
places events like the Motocross of Darwin, Parts of Me
here and Think and Red Center, that's you know, major
events are a major driver for visitation to the North.
We obviously need to lend a hand and support our
tourist operators both North and South impacts of floods and
(08:04):
the damages that that's occurred, and we always need to
be making sure that you know, we're putting our best
foot forward.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Yeah, spot on. Well, Daniel, it's always good to catch
up with you. I've no doubt that we'll probably catch
up again. I'm guessing after the budget does get handed down,
if there is a bit in there for tourism. I
know the Minister had joined us on the show a
bit earlier in the week and had spoken about, you know,
some of that funding ten million dollars to go towards
some barbecues, some toilet infrastructure, that sort of thing. So
(08:32):
we'll see exactly where it ends up and how far
it goes.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Yeah, and we appreciate. Yeah, we're certainly very much keen
to see tourism front and center in this budget and
the upcoming budgets.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Well, Daniel, always good to catch up. Sorry man, I've
got a bit of a frog in my throat. Good
to catch up with you this morning, and no doubt
we'll talk to you again soon.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Thanks Katie Chan, thank you.
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