The Northern Territory to become the first jurisdiction in Australia to incentivise travel for tourists fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Tourism NT today launched a $5 million campaign aimed at attracting interstate travellers to the Territory during the wet season, offering discounts of up to $1,000 on tourism packages.
The campaign, now in its second year will this time be exclusively available to double-jabbed tourists, who will be able to access a $200 discount for every $1,000 spent on flights, accommodation, tours, attractions and/or vehicle hire.
This comes just days after Chief Minister Michael Gunner unveiled the North Territory government’s stage 3 reopening roadmap, which will see further travel restrictions lifted when the overall NT vaccination rate hits 80 per cent and mandates vaccinations for workers in ‘high-risk’ settings.
NT tourism and Hospitality Minister Natasha Fyles said incentivising travel for vaccinated Australians was about protecting Territorians and other visitors to the NT and rewarding those doing their bit to counter COVID-19.
“We don’t want them to come in and potentially be unwell and burden our health system. This is an incentive – it’s not saying you can’t come to the Territory if you’re not unvaccinated. But the NT government is putting its money where we believe good public policy is, by saying if you’re vaccinated, you’re eligible for this significant discount.”
Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade deputy chief executive Andrew Hopper said to prove they had been fully vaccinated and receive the discount, tourists would have to show their vaccination certificates to travel retailers as part of the scheme.
He said the campaign would further position the NT as one of the safest tourism destinations in Australia.
“Tourism NT will be the first Australian tourism body to offer a vaccine incentive, cementing the Northern Territory as the premier COVID-safe travel destination,” he said.
“As the NT heads into its summer season, it is imperative that we continue to drive bookings, grow the value of the holiday market and position the NT as an accessible, safe and affordable tourist destination, to support the NT’s tourism sector.”
The tourism campaign, which is dubbed the Summer Sale, will run from the 1st of October 2021 to the 31st of March 2022.
This article first appeared on Over60.