Saturday, November 22, 2008

Hopes of tourism spin from Australia in Top End

The head of Tourism NT says she hopes Baz Luhrmann's film Australia gets people interested in the idea of holidaying in the Northern Territory, despite the global economic downturn.

Tourism Australia has devised a series of ads to run in conjunction with the film.

The much-hyped Baz Luhrmann production premiered this week and was partially filmed in the Top End.

Maree Tetlow says the industry has high hopes for the film's knock-on effects on tourism.

"I would think that when things are tough that people generally want escapism and probably going to the movies is good for Fox Studios and Baz Luhrmann," she said.

"As people decide that 'Yes, look, we're still going to have our holidays, we're still going to travel', then hopefully we're high on their menu of places to go."

Ms Tetlow is hopeful Australia will spur a fresh wave of interest in Aboriginal culture around the world.

John Morse has held executive roles across Australia's tourism industry and says the film could make a compelling argument for travelling to Australia.

"It's the fact that it is Australia, it is the outback, it is the spirit of Australia and this will be the first epic film where Indigenous culture is highlighted in such a strong and positive way," he said.