More than $135,000 worth of bookings for the peak tourism season were cancelled last week alone because of the ongoing crime issues currently plaguing the Northern Territory, a tourism body has said amid the Fyles Government’s claims that the industry is performing better than ever and that the NT has become “a preferred holiday destination for Australians”.

Tourism Central Australia CEO Danial Rochford told Mix 104.9 that he is hearing more reports of tourist cancellations daily as tourists are bypassing not only Alice Springs, but also the wider NT due to the ongoing crime crisis.

“The reality is that crime and anti-social behaviour have not subsided,” Mr Rochford said. “We are currently suffering from this ongoing bypass and cuts in the tourism sector because of this ongoing crime issue. We are looking at a weaker tourism season this year.”

Mr Rochford added that until the government gets the crime issue under control, numbers of tourists attending NT events would be reduced.

“Compared to previous years, booking is softer on all upcoming events in the NT,” he said.

“We are experiencing a reduced number of people coming during this peak tourism period despite our best effort to market and campaign.”

Mr Rochford said the crime problem is not only a Central Australia issue and is now becoming a wider NT issue, with people not coming to the Territory.

“The government needs to be more proactive and get on top of the crime issue,” he said. “The government needs to pull all available resources to address this. We have been going to bed at night here in fear. We need to get on top of the crime issue sooner, not later.”

Mr Rochford also revealed that tourism operators are now asking the government for a support package since the ongoing crime rate is affecting businesses’ bottom line, and has already affected the NT’s economy.

Tourism Minister Nicole Manison, meanwhile, released a tourism sector report on the same day as Mr Rochford’s comments, claiming that visitors to the NT have spent a record $3.12 billion last year, which boosted the local economy and provided Territorians with “well-paying jobs in all regions”.

Data released by Tourism Research Australia state that 1.66 million overnight visitors were reported for the NT in the year ending December 2022, representing a 30 per cent increase compared to the year ending December 2021, with a 48 per cent growth from interstate markets.

A break-down by region was not provided.

Ms Manison also said visitation in the final quarter of 2022 increased, which the report claimed was a particular highlight, with a significant increase of 65 per cent compared to the same period the previous year. Her report also indicated that 1.57 million domestic visitors travelled to the Territory in 2022, up 23 per cent compared to 2021, and that they spent $2.94 billion and stayed an average of 6.2 nights.

“Every region in the Territory saw an increase in visitors in 2022, and 2023 is only looking to be bigger and better as we welcome back international travellers,” Ms Manison said.

“The Northern Territory is cementing its place as a preferred holiday destination for Australians, who are staying longer, spending more and travelling more within the Territory.”