Hello World
Get your passports ready, globetrotters and holiday makers... If you’ve been dreaming of lands far, far away, grab your travel buddies and make tracks to Darwin Airport Resort for the 2024 Travel Festival.
By Tierney Seccull
Whether you choose to take flight, hit the road or sail the seas, a wide range of travel operators are on deck to answer your burning questions, making this a one-stop-shop to plan your next international adventure.
The Travel Festival is facilitated by Helloworld Darwin City in cahoots with travel agent Lisa Malnar, reuniting after a successful event in 2023. Malnar says things are slowly starting to balance out since the pandemic cancelled, well, everything.
“Last year, after being grounded for two-and-a-half years, people saved a lot of money and a lot of excitement to go and see the world,” she says.
“We saw people just going. They didn’t necessarily care where, or about the cost, they just needed to get somewhere!”
Territory traveller trends have changed slightly in recent months, with holiday-makers more mindful of the hip pocket.
“Towards the end of last year, and going into this year, we have seen people a little more hesitant with the price. Airlines are not up to the full capacity or flights they had pre-COVID, so there’s still not as many flights as we used to have,” Malnar says.
“We’re seeing the growth, though, and I think by the end of 2024, we’ll be back to normal, pre-pandemic numbers.”
The NT is well repped when it comes to local travel, with places like Tourism Top End, Tourism Central Australia and other fab local travel operators on deck to assist with your Territory travel plans. But when it comes to international travel, it can be a little daunting to know where to even begin.
With four airlines and a swag of travel operators at this year’s Travel Festival – including luxury ocean and river cruises, sustainable travel options, and group tours – it’s worth popping by for a face-to-face chat with real humans. Plus, there’s the chance to jag a real bargain.
“We have some exclusive specials on the day, and staff are available to take on-the-spot bookings,” Malnar says.
“One example I can tell you about is Compass – a diving company from Timor-Leste, and one of the best in the world. They’re going to have a fantastic four-day dive special that will only be available on the day.”
As well as the chance to score exclusive holiday deals, the first 1,000 travel-seekers through the door receive a free gift bag, perfect for holding brochures picked up along the way.
Given the 2024 Travel Festival is held in the sweet setting of Darwin Airport Resort, no-one could blame you for kicking back poolside, a cocktail in hand, to plan your next big adventure. Dreamy as.
2024 Travel Festival
WHEN SAT 23 MAR | 10AM-3PM
AT DARWIN AIRPORT RESORT
COST FREE
INFO travelfestival.com.au
