Last week was peak tourist season in the Top End, but a snap COVID-19 lockdown in Greater Darwin and Katherine that lasted most of the week meant many businesses stopped trading and lost revenue during their busiest time of year.
Key points:
- The new funding will support tourism and hospitality businesses plus touring companies, conference organisers and eligible attractions
- Businesses must have suffered a 30 per cent decline in revenue to be eligible
- NT businesses have welcomed the support, but say more tourism vouchers would be a bigger help
Under a new co-funded support package, struggling tourism and hospitality businesses anywhere in the NT will be eligible for payments of up to $30,000 each, as they grapple with stop-start visitation due to COVID-19 lockdowns across the country.
The $10.3 million package was announced by the federal and NT governments on Friday.
Darwin Waterfront pub The Precinct Tavern was forced to close its doors throughout the latest lockdown period, meaning t lost a whole three days of trading.
Restaurant manager Jana Sykorova said while business had bounced back quickly after the end of lockdown, the days-long closure meant any financial support was welcome.
“It is absolutely crucial to get some support from the government,” she said.
“If it’s enough or not, that’s hard to say.
“We are thankful for anything because if you are three days out of trade… it still seems to be nothing in comparison to other businesses, especially Darwin south, but we are very thankful for any help.”
More support for businesses
The new $10.3 million support package includes a $9 million program which gives tourism and hospitality businesses access to payments of $1000 to $3000.
It also features a $1.3 million fund that allows touring companies, conference organisers and eligible attractions to receive payments between $5000 and $30,000, depending on their annual turnover.
Businesses must have suffered a 30 per cent decline in revenue, compared to 2019, due to COVID-19 restrictions to be eligible.
The support is in addition to $1000-a-week payments from the NT Government for eligible Greater Darwin and Katherine businesses impacted by last week’s lockdowns.
ABC News: Nicholas Hynes
)Tourism and Hospitality Minister Natasha Fyles said the new funding would be a boost for struggling businesses in the sector.
“We know that tourism and hospitality have been very hard hit by coronavirus,” she said.
“We were very conscious before our lockdown that the lockdowns in New South Wales and Victoria were having an impact on Northern Territory businesses and so this… scheme will be available from next week.”
Vouchers the best form of support: Business
But some businesses say that while support payments will help, stimulus measure would make the biggest difference.
Pyndan Camel Tracks Alice Springs owner Marcus Williams, who as a sole trader is eligible for a $1000 payment under the co-funded package, said a new round of the Territory Tourism Voucher scheme would be the best support the NT government could give impacted businesses.
ABC News: Xavier Martin
)“I’m not going to say no to $1000 – if I’m eligible to apply for it, I certainly will,” he said.
“But I think support packages help a little bit but not a great deal.
“The Territory tourism vouchers they had earlier this year and last year were much more beneficial to businesses like mine, so I hope Tourism NT and the powers that be can manage to roll out some more of those vouchers – particularly during the summertime, when businesses in the Territory within the tourism industry are on their backsides.
“(Those vouchers) knocked my socks off last year — I was blown away by how much they actually did help.”
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