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Luring
tourists to the Top End |
Reeling in the tourists
Fishy event could land grey nomad with $1m
Have
your say
GREY nomads are flocking to
register for an event which could land them a million dollars.
The Top End's inaugural Million Dollar Fish competition last year lured nearly
26,000 interstate tourists to the NT, many of them caravanners.
Registrations have now opened for this year's event which gets underway on
October 1 and runs until February 28.
And the second season of the competition will have even more prizes to
hook tourists and anglers and promote tourism in the Top End.
A total of 101 barramundi will be released in fishing locations across the
Territory, one of them carrying a $1 million prize tag.
The remaining 100 have $10,000 cash prize tags.
An extra $160,000 of bonus prizes will also be awarded, making one of
Australia’s richest fishing competitions even richer.
Chief Minister and Minister for Tourism Adam Giles said it would build on
the success of last year, which attracted more than 43,000 registrations
from 62 countries including 25,800 people from interstate and 14,600
Territorians.
Ten prize-tagged barramundi worth $10,000 each were caught in Darwin
Harbour, Daly River, Corroborree Billabong and Bynoe Harbour.
The competition also generated national and international media coverage
worth more than $22 million.
"There's no doubt the Northern Territory is home to some of the best
fishing in the world and everyone wants to catch an iconic Northern
Territory barramundi," Mr Giles said.
'Competition has
spin-off benefits for
local businesses'
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"The competition is timed to influence travel to the Top End during our
low season from October to February.
"Last year's competition generated spin-off benefits for local businesses,
with marine dealers reporting a boom in outboard motor servicing, servos
selling more fuel and tackle shops and fishing tour operators reporting
increases in business.
"Season Two will have a strong focus to encourage anglers to stay, play
and fish in our regions like Arnhem Land, Kakadu and Katherine which all
offer incredible fishing."
Special "Insider Tips" videos featuring well-known NT fishing identity
Alex Julius have been created to give competitors the best chance of
catching a tagged barra.
Mr Giles thanked major sponsor CrownBet for continuing to support the NT
and providing cash prizes for season two.
The additional bonus prizes include five HelloWorld holidays to five
different regions in the NT flying Qantas, a camper trailer worth $30,000,
Engel fridges, Shimano and BCF fishing tackle, JMGilles Classic Lures,
Accor Hotels for Le Club points, Qantas flights, XXXX GOLD cartons and a
fishing charter.
The bonus sponsor prizes will be drawn monthly until next February.
"This means everyone who registers will have the chance to win prizes
right up until the end of the season, even if they weren't able to find a
tagged fish," Mr Giles said.
Registrations are now open online at
www.milliondollarfish.com.au.
CrownBet chief executive Matt Tripp said the NT was the ideal location to
stay, play and fish.
"As a proud Darwin citizen, CrownBet is thrilled to partner with the NT
Government to present season two of Million Dollar Fish where there's $2
million up for grabs," Mr Tripp said.
"We're committed to driving tourism and economic benefit to the Territory
and we're confident this year will be even bigger than season one where
fishos hooked 10 barramundi and $100,000 of prizes."
Cricket legend Matthew Hayden will again return as the competition's
official ambassador.
"I can't wait to get out on the water with some mates and turn our next NT
fishing trip up a notch," he said.
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No part of this
publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the prior written
permission of Dennis Amor.
Copyright 2005
Dennis Amor All Rights Reserved
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