2 July 2026
A new Plan with Confidence platform will help travellers estimate fuel costs, check fuel availability, access live fuel prices, and check road conditions before they travel.As the tourism industry faces short-term fuel and visitor demand pressures, the government is also investing over $3 million to drive visitation.The Finocchiaro CLP Government will continue to drive growth in the visitor economy and provide certainty to industry.
The iconic Aussie road-trip just got a lot simpler, with the Finocchiaro CLP Government launching a one-stop shop aimed at combatting fuel uncertainty and misinformation.
The new Plan with Confidence platform allows visitors to estimate fuel costs based on route and vehicle type, check live fuel prices through MyFuel NT, check fuel availability through Petrol Pulse, and access Road Report NT for live updates on closures, flooding, restrictions and maintenance works. It also connects visitors with a trove of maps, itineraries and events on the Tourism and Events NT website.
Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, Marie-Clare Boothby, has been leading the push alongside state and territory counterparts, highlighting the essential role drive tourism plays in the Territory’s tourism industry.
“There’s nowhere like the Territory, and the world is absolutely discovering that too, with the latest tourism data showing regional visitation up, and visitor spending is at an all-time high for year ending March 2026,” Minister Boothby said.
“But with severe weather, fuel price pressures, and global uncertainty headwinds, it hasn’t been easy for the Territory’s tourism and hospitality industries as we entered this peak season.”
“As fuel pressures mounted across the country, I wrote to the Federal Government. I stood up at the National Tourism Ministers Meeting and said we needed a coordinated response. But while we work with our counterparts, we aren’t waiting.”
“We’re acting and we’re investing in our tourism industry. We’ve listened to RTOs and operators, and we’ve introduced the Plan with Confidence platform to provide confidence for visitors and businesses.”
Tourism and Events NT CEO, Suzana Bishop, said providing clear, practical information to travellers was critical in the current environment.
“Giving travellers simple, reliable information helps remove uncertainty and supports people to choose the Territory for their next trip,” Ms Bishop said.
Recent research commissioned by the Tourism and Transport Forum found 23% of Australians had cancelled or postponed winter travel plans due to fuel concerns, while 65% said they would be more likely to take a road trip in regional Australia if they could easily access information about fuel availability and prices along their route.
CEO of Accommodation Australia, Mr James Goodwin, called for a similar platform at a national level, saying “road trips are one of the great Aussie traditions” and that “road travel is a key driver of visitation and economic activity.”
Minister Boothby highlighted the role drive tourism plays in the Territory’s regions, and the new initiatives introduced to confront the challenges facing the industry.
“The average drive traveller stays in the NT for around 16 days, which means more nights in our regions, more meals at our pubs, and more money flowing into local businesses – it’s a critical part of our tourism industry,” Minister Boothby said.
“But not everyone is starting on the same footing, which is why we’re investing in initiatives to attract more visitors, particularly in our regions – and to get bums on seats.”
Since the start of the season, the Government has invested an unprecedented $3.1 million to support those regions, operators, and visitor markets doing it tough, including:
Airline partnerships to drive discounted air access into Darwin and Alice Springs;Additional targeted marketing to keep the Northern Territory front of mind across key domestic markets;New tactical offers with major travel distributors;Partnership with Tourism Top End to deliver a “Get Around” campaign to drive intrastate travel; andAround $250,000 through the Tourism Business Restart Program to directly support operators impacted by weather events
Minister Boothby concluded: “This is about growth, certainty and security, and it’s about making sure the Territory and our regions remain the best place to live, work, visit – drive to – and invest.”
