The Northern Territory Business Events has released its first Long-term Business Events Strategy. The Strategy, which will guide the growth of the NT business events sector for the next 10 years and beyond, is part of the NT Government’s Turbocharging Tourism initiative.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Culture, Lauren Moss said “The Territory Government recognises the importance of the business events market to the Territory economy, and is investing in the sector through Turbocharging Tourism.
“On average, business events travellers spend more than other types of visitors, so more business events travellers to the NT means more money in the pockets of Territorians.
“The Long-Term Business Events Strategy will enable us to work with key industry stakeholders to focus on identified growth areas and opportunities to secure even more business events for the NT” Moss continued.
The Strategy includes an analysis of the sector’s present position, a vision of where business events in the NT could be positioned by 2030, and pathways to realise potential growth.
It also includes identified opportunities for growth, consideration of the differences between Territory business event destinations, and input from national industry bodies and local industry partners and stakeholders.
Strengths recognised through stakeholder consultation included the bid fund for business events, and the Territory’s unique cultural experiences.
High-level identified opportunities include marketing the NT as a destination for pre and post touring, attracting more business events in the shoulder months and increasing the number of familiarisation trips to encourage business event planners to experience the NT for themselves. Targeting business events related to the growth and developing sectors identified via the Northern Territory Government’s Economic Development Framework is also seen as important.
Peter Savoff, General Manager, Darwin Convention Centre said “Business events are an important industry sector. The benefits they deliver go beyond hotel rooms and patrons at restaurants. Business events leave legacies long after the conference is finished, including upskilling the local industry, developing new opportunities in the region and enhancing a destination’s reputation as a knowledge-based city, to name just a few.
Savoff said “We are excited about the new opportunities the Northern Territory Long-term Business Events Strategy will bring, especially in growing our international reputation as a business events destination and continuing to attract more major national conferences.”
The aim of the Strategy is that by 2030, business events will be delivering $68 million in delegate expenditure to the Territory economy.
To find out more about the NT Business Events visit their website