During a recent trip to 2024’s Australia Marketplace in London, Matt Cameron-Smith, CEO of Voyages Indigenous Tourism, and Scott Lovett, deputy CEO of Tourism Northern Territory, reflected on 40 years of Ayers Rock Resort, the upcoming 40th anniversary of the handback of Uluru to the Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara, and why Brits continue to leave ‘light footprints and heavy hearts’ on the Northern Territory
2024's iteration of the Australia Marketplace is especially pertinent for Voyages Indigenous Tourism, the operators of Ayers Rock Resort, with two notable anniversary celebrations in 2024 and 2025. Matt said, "There is a lot to celebrate over the next 18 months," but noted that the celebrations mean much more than standard anniversary fare; he committed to "walking together, planning together and celebrating together" with the local Pitjantjatjara in celebration of the 40th handback anniversary. A range of festivals will take place around Indigenous art and 'inma', a song and dance ceremony by Aṉangu women that may be familiar from its appearance at the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony in 2000.
"It is a celebration of culture. It will acknowledge the importance of the traditional owners [the Aṉangu], their culture, stories, and land. For us in the Territory, it is a celebration of the depth of experience that can be had in the Northern Territory."
Scott Lovett, deputy CEO of Tourism Northern Territory, echoed the depth of the destination that Matt attested to. "That is a real strength of the Northern Territory: it is real. You have natural beauty and wonder across the Territory."
Undoubtedly, the spirit that draws guests to Uluru, 40 years after Ayers Rock Resort first opened its doors, is key to those who go on to explore the wider Northern Territory. "When people are committing to travel to us, they want to do it right," Scott set out.
Elaborating, Matt added, "It comes back to why people are travelling and what they come to the Northern Territory to do. Arguably, the Northern Territory is the centre of First Nations culture in Australia; right the way through, it is about immersing yourself into a culture while leaving a light footprint and a heavy heart."
In an earlier mission this year, Scott described the UK market as one of the most "valued and treasured" to the destination. That sentiment remains. "It is really important that we get products, Voyages Indigenous Tourism as one of our signatures, engaged with the market as strongly as we can... we are back up to about 80% of where we were pre-Covid, with about 23,000 visitors from the UK. Having a breadth of product in front of the trade is really important."
Matt added, "Our trade partners here in the UK are critically important... we want to keep them informed, educated and connected."
That final mission will make notable headway next month, with Qantas' second international service to Darwin offering five weekly flights until a daily service kicks in from March 2025. Virgin have reconnected Melbourne and Brisbane to Uluru in recent months, which Scott added is "critical" to fuelling success for the Northern Territory through Ayers Rock's 40th anniversary beyond.
Matt and Scott were speaking in the lead-up to 2024's Australia Marketplace UK & Europe, which took place in London from November 18th to 20th, 2024.
www.voyages.com.au / www.northernterritory.comwww.northernterritory.com
