Business Visitors to the Northern Territory Expo

Abstract

This research paper reports the interim findings of a continuing research project into the attitudes of Malaysian and Indonesian business people attending the Northern Territory Expo. This major trade fair attracts several hundred business people and government officials from much of south-east Asia. The paper reports attitudes towards possibly holidaying in Australia and is the second stage of a three part research project. This second stage trialled a questionnaire containing items previously identified as being important from past interviews. It finds that information needs are important, and that responses to the traditional tourism icons of Northern Territory and Australian tourism such as the ‘outback’ are mixed. It also shows that the presence of halal foods and ease of access to Islamic services are also important for some respondents. However, as the sample was but 51 businessmen policy implications are difficult to assess, but the research does seem to justify additional spending on further research in 1998.