Katherine's tourist season has not been a total loss after all.
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Mayor Fay Miller says the NT Government's $200 tourist voucher scheme has been a winner for Katherine.
She was commenting on the bookings made at the Visitor Information Centre, which has been having one of its worst years ever.
The grey nomad migration was largely stopped in its tracks this dry season because of the pandemic border closures and quarantine requirements.
The voucher scheme was aimed at getting Territorians to explore their own backyard which has been a winner because NT locals wanted to check out Katherine's attractions, the Mayor said.
Staffing numbers at the visitor centre went from one full-time and two part-time people, to two full-time and three part-time officers through July.
Total sales of tourism products at the centre rose to more than $620,000, an increase of 76 per cent on the same month last year.
Online bookings were $153,846, front counter bookings were $232,618 with $233,866 from the tourist vouchers.
People could apply online for the vouchers as long as they matched the $200 free spend.
The visitor numbers at the centre for July was recorded at 8413, a drop of 65 per cent on the same month a year ago.
The big ticket items for centre sales was Nitimiluk cruises, helicopter flights, Katherine Outback Experience, canoeing and accommodation.
"It was a good month - a beauty," Mayor Miller said.
She pointed out there will be two more rounds of the vouchers to be handed, round two in November and round three in February next year.
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