Tourism and Events NT has developed the Aboriginal Tourism Trade Ready Program, a tailored development opportunity designed to support Northern Territory Aboriginal tourism businesses to build the knowledge, skills and industry connections needed to grow through tourism trade distribution.

What is tourism trade distribution?

Tourism trade distribution is how visitors discover and book your tourism product or experience. While some visitors book directly, many plan their trips through a network of tourism businesses, including visitor information centres, online travel agents (OTAs), inbound tour operators (ITOs), wholesalers and travel agents.

Working with trade distribution partners can help your business reach more domestic and international visitors, increase bookings and build long-term business growth. The Aboriginal Tourism Trade Ready Program will help you understand how the tourism trade distribution system works, identify the right opportunities for your business and take practical steps towards becoming ‘trade ready’.

Whether you're just starting your tourism journey or looking to reach more visitors, this program will help you better understand how the tourism trade industry works, prepare your business to work with the tourism trade and build confidence in accessing new markets.

As part of the Expression of Interest process, participating businesses will be invited to work with Tourism and Events NT and our partner, Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) to complete a Trade Readiness Health Check. The purpose of the Health Check is to assess your business’s current level of trade readiness and identify where your business is on its trade journey before progressing to through to the program.

Participants will receive:

  • A personalised Trade Readiness Health Check and business assessment.
  • Two interactive workshops focused on tourism trade distribution, trade readiness and business development.
  • One-on-one tailored coaching throughout the program
  • Attendance to ATEC Meeting Place trade show famil, providing valuable exposure to Australia's leading tourism trade event.
  • Practical tools and resources to strengthen your business and prepare to work with the tourism trade.
  • The opportunity to pitch your tourism product to industry and partners at the Aboriginal Tourism Forum.

Key Dates

Workshop 1

  • 5 - 7 October 2026 in Darwin 
  • 8 – 9 October 2026 in Alice Springs 

ATEC Meeting Place Trade Show Famil

  • 27–29 October 2026 in Hobart

Workshop 2

  • 11 November 2026 in Alice Springs 

Aboriginal Tourism Forum

  • 12 November 2026 – Present your business through a guided product pitch to industry at the Aboriginal Tourism Forum in Alice Springs

New Product Workshop

  • 1 – 3 March 2027 in Sydney

Complete the Expression of Interest (PDF, 621.6KB) form to tell us about your business and Express your Interest to undertake a Trade Readiness Health Check.  The information provided will be used to assess your business's current trade readiness and determine its suitability for the program.

Applications close 17 September 2026

For more information, contact the Tourism and Events NT Distribution Development team on 08 8999 3921 or [email protected].