By James Wilkinson
This week’s visit to Uluru by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge has been described as “absolutely extraordinary” by the operators of Ayers Rock Resort, Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia.
Speaking exclusively to HM this morning (Apr 23) after the Royal couple flew to Adelaide, Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia’s Executive General Manager – Sales, Marketing and Distribution, Ray Stone, said the visit was expected to boost Ayers Rock Resort’s key markets across the globe.
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spent yesterday touring Uluru, meeting the traditional Anangu owners and talking to students at the National Indigenous Training Academy. They then spent the night at the luxurious Longitude 131 resort.
Images of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Uluru have been beamed around the world, appearing on TV stations and in newspapers and magazines globally.
“The implication for us on a global scale is just fantastic,” Stone told HM.
“Looking alone at the front page and centre spread coverage in the British media has helped reinforce our key message of ‘You haven’t seen Australia unless you’ve been to Uluru’”, he said.
The British market is a significant one for Voyages and prior to the visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Stone said the market was already up 8% year-to-date. On the back of the coverage, that’s expected to continue its upward curve.
Stone said one of the most significant aspects of the Royal visit was the time the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spent with students from the National Indigenous Training Academy.
“Apart from the visit itself, the focus on the National Indigenous Training Academy was great as far as the resort is concerned,” he said.
The National Indigenous Training Academy started at the end of 2011 and it is already having a significant impact. Over 29% of the workforce at Ayers Rock Resort is indigenous and the Academy is ensuring that continues to grow.