NEWS Now time for flight fight

A MAJOR tourism marketing campaign must be launched to avoid fewer flight services and even higher prices with the impending Inpex wind-down, the former head of Tourism NT has warned.

But Tony Mayell, who left his role following the election of the Gunner Labor Government in August last year, said a government subsidy direct to airlines was not the answer.

Territorians are reeling under the weight of airfare costs as one-way ticket prices to major southern capitals tip the $1000 mark.

The Gunner Government has ruled out an inquiry into the costs.

“Governments offering subsidies are a short-term solution,” Mr Mayell said.

“The NT Government, Tourism NT and industry have to partner with groups like Helloworld Travel and Flight Centre in a proactive aggressive way to generate demand.”

Mr Mayell is now the managing director of Inside Journeys and Travel IndoChina, part of Helloworld Travel, one of Australia’s largest travel distribution companies, comprising retail travel businesses, destination management services inbound, air ticket consolidation, wholesale, corporate and online operations.

It has more than 2000 staff in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, the USA, South-East India and Europe.

Inpex demand was keeping fares into Darwin high, Mr Mayell said, and as this slows, airlines will reassess and more than likely reduce services if the demand is not maintained. It is at this point that proactive marketing has to begin, he said.

“The industry has to start making some noise itself at the airlines and generating demand,” he said. Asia,

“I am more than aware of the costs of flying into places like Alice Springs. I still have family who live there.

“Just recently, a one-way trip from Sydney was $780, while a one-way trip to Adelaide from Alice was $900.”

An aviation source told the Sunday Territorian marketing dollars, rather than subsidies, were used to promote the NT as a destination using airlines like Tiger and Virgin.

He said consumers faced less travel choice moving forward when Inpex construction finished.

“We will effectively have to replace the 4000 FIFOS with 8000 tourists because tourists won’t want to pay as much as Inpex workers are now to fly to the NT,” he said.

“Those discussions have to be had now by the Government and Tourism NT.”

Tourism Minister Lauren Moss has said previously the Government would be encouraging more airlines to fly to the Territory.