Hotel and tourism leaders including Accor Asia Pacific Chief Operating Officer Simon McGrath will assist in the recovery of the Northern Territory tourism sector after being announced as members of a new government taskforce.

Chaired by Tourism NT’s Chair of the Board of Commissioners, Michael Bridge, the nine-member Tourism Rebound Taskforce will operate as a non-statutory body for an initial period of one month following its formation at the beginning of May.

Northern Territory Tourism Rebound Taskforce: 

• Simon McGrath, Chief Operating Officer for AccorHotels Pacific
• Margy Osmond, CEO of the Tourism & Transport Forum
• Michaela Webster, Chief Operating Officer, Discovery Parks Group
• Matthew Cameron Smith, Managing Director for AAT Kings
• Peter Savoff, General Manager of the Darwin Convention Centre.
• Grant Hunt, CEO of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia.
• Michael Bridge (Chair), Tourism NT'S Board of Commissioners Chair
• Helen Martin, Chair of the Aboriginal Tourism Advisory Council
• Denis Pierce, Director of Linchpin and member of the National Tourism Restart Taskforce

Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the team was brought together with the intention of championing the NT to the rest of the country and the world.

“We will work with experienced tourism operators to recover and adapt and keep Territorians in jobs," he said.

“I can’t tell you when the borders will open again but when they do we will be ready to welcome people with that same Territory spirit.

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Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner. Source: Michael Gunner Facebook

“Right now the Territory is known as the safest place in Australia, but we are also the greatest place in Australia and I want everyone else to see that too.

“And as one of the safest and most magnificent places in the world people will want to come here.”

Other prominent taskforce members include Director of Linchpin and member of the National Tourism Restart Taskforce, Denis Pierce, and Managing Director of Banubanu Wilderness Retreat and Chair of the Aboriginal Tourism Advisory Council, Helen Martin.

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Source: Northern Territory Government

NT Minister for Tourism, Sport and Culture, Lauren Moss, said the steps taken by the tourism industry at this time were of "critical" importance.

"The NT tourism industry is expected to be one of the hardest hit by the necessary COVID-19 health measures with projected revenue for air transport, touring, attractions, accommodation and hospitality reduced by up to 90 per cent," she said.

“Tourism is a major employer and contributor to the Northern Territory economy with $2.2 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) and supporting 17,100 jobs in the NT."

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