On the weekend, the Territory welcomed the first wide-bodied aircraft charter flight of Japanese tourists to the NT through one of Japan’s largest travel wholesalers, JTB World Vacations. 

Minister for Tourism and Culture, Lauren Moss said the charter with JTB World Vacations shows increased marketing activity in Japan is paying off. JTB World Vacations is the Territory’s primary distribution partner in Japan. 

The chartered Qantas A330 plane flight was the first of its kind to visit the Top End from Japan, and follows extensive Tourism NT marketing efforts to attract Japanese visitors to the NT, and specifically the Top End. 

The charter has carried approximately 357 passengers over two flights – from Darwin to Narita, Japan and return – and is worth an estimated $600,000 in visitor spend in the NT.

Japan is the Territory’s fourth largest tourism market and is extremely important to the NT. 

In the year ending March 2018 24,000 Japanese tourists visited the NT, which was a 13 per cent increase on the previous year. 

Of the Japanese visitors to the NT who were asked about where they had visited during their trip to the NT, 87 per cent said they went to Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park.

The Japanese visitor market is expected to grow by around 5 per cent per year to 2020. 

During their stay, the Japanese tourists travelling on the chartered flights will visit Crocosaurus Cove, Mindil Beach Sunset Market, the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT, Nourlangie Rock, Yellow Waters Cruise, Warradjan Aboriginal Culture Centre, Ubirr, Mamukala Wetland, Bowali Visitor Centre and Litchfield National Park. 

A media contingent of eight reporters will be hosted by Tourism NT to continue educating Japanese consumers on the range of travel experiences on offer in the NT. 

Minister for Tourism and Culture, Lauren Moss said: “This is a positive step to ensure the growth of the Japanese visitor market within the NT and to grow the tourism economy within the Top End creating local jobs.

“Uluru is such a popular destination with Japanese visitors to the NT, but we want to show our guests that we have much more to see and do while they are here. 

“Our marketing efforts have been focused on educating consumers and trade on the Top End offering, while encouraging Japanese tourists to visit more destinations on their trips to the Territory.”