Wild investment potential as NT unlocks tourism opportunities in parks

The Northern Territory Government is unlocking new commercial investment opportunities across the Territory’s 5.1 million hectare parks estate they hope will create more reasons for visitors to stay longer, explore further and spend locally.

The opportunities at Litchfield National Park, Elsey National Park, Alice Springs Desert Park and the Tennant Creek Telegraph Station form part of the government’s plan to grow nature-based tourism, attract private investment, and create new regional jobs.

And Indigenous businesses are encouraged to look at the opportunities being made available.

Key points:

• New commercial tourism opportunities have been announced at this week’s NT Investment Summit, as the Government invests in upgrading and unlocking Territory parks.
• Opportunities range from boutique accommodation to authentic tour experiences in Litchfield, Elsey, Alice Springs, and Tennant Creek.
• This comes after new investments at Wangi Falls in Litchfield, and at Territory Wildlife Park were announced earlier this year.

Minister for Tourism and Hospitality and Minister for Parks and Wildlife, Marie-Clare Boothby, said the Territory’s parks were iconic public assets with enormous untapped tourism potential.

Minister for Parks and Wildlife, Marie-Clare Boothby.

“We are committed to upgrading and unlocking Territory parks, with record investments delivering real outcomes for our lifestyle and our visitor economy,” Minister Boothby said.

“But while NT parks already attract over 3 million visits a year, we know there’s more potential. We want to turn those day trips into overnight trips, and create one-of-a-kind experiences for visitors to see more, stay longer, and spend more in our regions.

“That’s why we’re inviting investors and operators to put their ideas forward. Let’s unlock the opportunities in our parks and our regions, and show the world that the Territory is the best place to live, work, visit, and invest.”

The new tourism investment opportunities include:

• Semi-permanent safari-style camping and guided nature experiences in Litchfield National Park
• Redevelopment of the Jalmurark Campground in Elsey National Park for camping, caravanning and glamping
• Premium safari-style accommodation and nocturnal wildlife experiences at Alice Springs Desert Park and
• Boutique heritage accommodation, leveraging the Barkly’s mining, military, and dark sky and astronomy offerings, based at the iconic Tennant Creek Telegraph Station.

Earlier this year, the Government announced a new café in Wangi Falls, and just last month, the Territory Wildlife Park launched its first new exhibit in a decade with Bugtopia, as the Park sees its highest visitor numbers at the start of the peak season in seven years – and its best May on record.

Minister Boothby launches the Visitor Economy Strategy 2032 at the Alice Springs Desert Park in March with Robin Mack (MD, Tourism Australia), Danial Rochford (CEO, Tourism Central Australia), and Suzana Bishop (CEO, Tourism and Events NT).

Territory Wildlife Park Director, Rob Hall, said the new investments marked an exciting new chapter for the park.

“With the Bugtopia exhibit open, our Butterfly Gorge exhibit set to open later in the year, and exciting new commercial opportunities ahead, the future is really looking bright for the Territory Wildlife Park,” Mr Hall said.

 Minister Boothby officially opens the Bugtopia exhibit at Territory Wildlife Park last month with the NT Parks and Wildlife team, including Director, Rob Hall.

The Government has committed $10 million to upgrade parks infrastructure, as well as another $5 million boost to ongoing parks maintenance. This comes after the government purchased the 30,000 hectare Silkwood estate in Litchfield National Park – the biggest parks expansion in a generation.

Minister Boothby concluded: “In our year of growth, certainty, and security, we are backing our parks and unlocking their tourism potential as we show the world that there’s nowhere better to visit and invest than in the Northern Territory.”