Business bulletin: 15 February 2024

A new Territory Tourism Discount Scheme will kick off at the end of this month providing a boost to the local tourism and hospitality sector.

Territorians and visitors will receive a 25% discount on tourism products or experiences undertaken in the Northern Territory when they book through a Territory Visitor Information Centre.

The Territory Tourism Discount Scheme is available for all bookings up to $5,000 (excluding retail items and gift certificates) with the 25% discount applied when purchasing a bookable product. The streamlined process enables travellers to purchase multiple tourism experiences or products during the same period.

The scheme opens on 29 February and will run through to 30 April 2024, providing a boost to operators during our traditionally quieter tourism season. It will also make exploring the Territory more affordable for Territorians during Easter and the school holidays.

The Territory Tourism Discount Scheme has been developed in partnership with the Northern Territory Regional Tourism Organisations, Tourism Top End and Tourism Central Australia, along with the Katherine Town Council.

Territory Visitor Information Centres are located in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Yulara.

Plan your next adventure at the Visitor Information Centre or online, go to the

Since 2021, the Northern Territory has led the nation with the highest proportion of rooftop solar systems installed with a battery as a result of the Home and Business Battery Scheme (HBBS).

30% of solar PV systems installed in the Territory over the past three years have included battery storage. This is 5 times the national average of 6% over the same period.

The HBBS has also reached a new milestone with over 2,000 Territory homeowners and businesses receiving over $12.1 million of government funding to purchase and install a battery to complement their rooftop solar system.

The installation of a battery system reduces electricity bills while improving the reliability and security of the electricity system by smoothing out demand from the grid.

The HBBS has resulted in installation of a total of 27 megawatt hours (MWh) of battery storage across the Territory.

In the Darwin-Katherine Electricity System, the HBBS has supported the installation of over 20 MWh of battery capacity, which is well ahead of the schedule established in the 2021 Darwin‑Katherine Electricity System Plan to achieve 40 MWh of home and community storage by 2030.

The scheme has also provided a boost to local businesses, directly contributing over $45 million of works to the Territory economy.

Eligible homeowners and businesses can access a grant of $400 per kilowatt hour of usable system capacity, up to a maximum grant of $5,000.

For more information, go to the Northern Territory Government website.

Territory Services is a new online services portal where people can go to perform a transaction with the Northern Territory (NT) Government.

There are currently 60 services in the portal, including:

  • renew a vehicle registration
  • apply for a white card or an ochre card
  • register a new hairdressing business.

This number will grow as more services are digitised.

Territory Services offers Territorians and businesses another convenient option to access NT Government services.  Access via front counters, by phone, mail and email is still available.

For more information, go to the Territory Services website.

If you have any feedback on the new service portal, use the feedback link under ‘Connect with us’.

The cruise ship industry is expected to inject $65 million into the Territory economy during the 2023-24 cruise season, creating jobs and providing a boost to tour operators, retailers and hospitality industry.

Around 100 cruise and expedition ships are expected to visit Darwin this season with a total passenger capacity of 60,000 cruisers.

Last week’s the Pacific Adventurer operated by P&O cruises sailed into Darwin on it’s maiden voyage carrying just over 2,660 passenger and 1,103 crew,

The Pacific Adventurer’s arrival provided a much needed boost to tourism operators, retailers and hospitality businesses with many passengers eager to disembark and explore Darwin and surrounds.

The Pacific Adventurer is P&O’s largest Australian ship featuring 1,318 cabins, a spa, gym, water slide, night club and more.

P&O Cruises Australia Interim President Peter Little said “we look forward to the continued growth of the cruising industry, creating jobs and supporting local businesses in locations we visit, and are proud to be part of Darwin’s tourism success.”

The Northern Territory Cruise Tourism Strategy 2022-2025 provides a clear roadmap to grow the industry over the next three years and maximise benefits for Territorians.

To learn more about the cruise marker and view the strategy, go to the Tourism NT website.

Another 4 Territory businesses will receive funding and support under the Business Innovation Program (BIP) 2.0 to help turn their innovative projects into commercial realities.

BIP 2.0 is a business support program that assists Territory businesses to develop and commercialise their innovative idea through funding and expert advisory support.

This round saw a record number of applications received with 26 businesses submitting proposals.

The successful projects are diverse and included ways to improve staffing in the health system, strengthening diversity casting in Australia and the world, producing non-carbonated beverages and developing technology to improve municipal and road infrastructure.

The BIP 2.0 round 3 recipients include:

  • Go Locum will receive $ 30,000 to develop a mobile friendly marketplace connecting doctors with hospitals to fill urgent roster vacancies.
  • Castaway NT will receive $28,610 to develop a platform to strengthen diversity casting to Australia and the world through culturally appropriate First Nations-led skilling pathways, resources for producers and casting directors.
  • One Mile Brewery will receive $30,000 to produce Territory made non-carbonated beverages for Territory artisan beverage producers.
  • Civiltech Solutions will receive $30,000 to use existing sensor technologies and AI to produce digital representations of municipal and road infrastructure that can be regularly updates at low cost.

Applications are now open for round 4 of BIP 2.0 are now open and close at the end of April 2024.

For more information and to apply, go to the Northern Territory Government website.

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