Hospitality and retail businesses have noticed an influx of visitors to the town during both the Easter holidays and the Anzac Day long weekend, signalling a return to "normal" trading following a difficult couple of years due to COVID-19.

Owner of Contour Hotel Katherine and general manager of Katherine's Knotts Crossing Resort, Laura Pace, said the hotels both had a huge Easter long weekend.

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"We had heaps of tourists and not just one night stays, they came down and they'd stay for two or three nights. That coupled with the fact that all of the work has recommenced in Katherine, the big construction civil works that have been happening," she said.

"Although it definitely was more tourists as opposed to workers."

Ms Pace said business had improved dramatically compared to last Easter when lockdowns and COVID travel restrictions were still in place, with Contour's restaurant also being incredibly busy over recent weeks.

"It's been so busy. We're lucky obviously we've got the in-house guests, but a lot of it is actually locals as well [at the restaurant]," she said.

"Compared to last year, we didn't have any tour buses. The confidence in travel just wasn't there.

"This year, even next week we've got seven tour groups coming in."

She said looking ahead, the dry season was looking to be incredibly busy, with occupancy rates already looking high.

"It's going to be busy from now until probably September. We're looking forward and there are some weeks that are just going to be insane, the numbers are great," she said.

"You can just feel that tourism's back and the need for accommodation in Katherine is very high.

"It's just so awesome to see Katherine buzzing."

Rod & Rifle Tackleworld Owner Trent de With agreed that it felt like normality was returning to Katherine after the impacts of the pandemic.

"It feels like there is normality returning and you see people now walking in without checking in or having masks on or panicking about how many people are in the shop and just things like that," he said.

Mr de With said he feels like the tourism season has started even earlier than usual this year.

"This time of year it definitely swells and you can go on a drive down the Main Street and just really see that you can't get to park anywhere, trying to go to Woolies is hectic and all that stuff. So you definitely know this time of year when it's happening, and it already feels like it's happening," he said.

"It feels a little bit earlier than what it normally is, which is promising because it means that hopefully we have a really strong June and July for the tourism market," he said.

Chamber of Commerce Regional Manager for Katherine Colin Abbott said observations and discussions with local businesses reinforced the fact that there has been improvement in the local retail sector.

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