Central Australia tourism operators report slump in drive market, as NT government reveals new revitalisation plan

The Northern Territory's newly appointed tourism minister claims there is a strategy in place to revitalise Central Australia's tourism industry, which is continuing to haemorrhage millions of dollars in lost visitation. Key points: Central Australian tourism is continuing to struggle, as the drive market lags behind Some businesses have reported a drop in bookings of up to 50 per cent compared to last year Operators say cost of living pressures, expensive airfares and crime concerns are to blame Minister Joel Bowden, who was promoted to the role late last month, said there were plans to invest more in the drive market and attract domestic and international tourists, but he was "yet to get across" the details of it. It comes off the back of a disappointing tourism season for caravan parks and many other operators across Central Australia, as cost of living pressures, soaring airfares and crime concerns continue to bite. "The businesses that get affected there are the caravan parks, the attractions, and many of our smaller tour group markets," Tourism Central Australia chief executive Danial Rochford said. "I'm getting inbound tour operator after inbound tour operator ringing me up daily, multiple times a day, saying they're about to pull itineraries to Alice Springs and Central Australia, because they don't have access to buses," Mr Rochford said.