The Northern Territory will welcome Australia’s inbound tourism industry to Darwin in 2027, building on growing engagement with international travel sellers and strengthening the Territory’s position on the global tourism stage.
Darwin and the Northern Territory have been named the destination for ATEC Meeting Place 2027, bringing Australia’s inbound tourism industry to the Top End and creating a significant opportunity to showcase the Territory’s distinctive tourism experiences to the businesses that connect Australia with the world.
The announcement builds on the momentum of G’Day Australia, which recently brought close to 300 frontline travel agents and 120 national sellers to the Northern Territory to experience its landscapes, culture and tourism offerings firsthand.
With ATEC Meeting Place, the focus now turns to deepening relationships with inbound tour operators (ITOs) and industry leaders who play a critical role in developing, packaging and selling Australian holidays to international markets.
Together, these opportunities reflect a growing focus on bringing the travel trade to the Territory — building awareness, strengthening product knowledge and giving international travel sellers greater confidence to include the NT in Australian itineraries.
“Securing ATEC Meeting Place 2027 is another important opportunity to put the Northern Territory in front of the people who help shape and sell Australian holidays to the world,” Tourism & Events NT CEO Suzana Bishop said.
“Following the arrival of close to 300 travel agents for G’Day Australia, hosting ATEC Meeting Place allows us to build on that momentum, deepen our relationships with international tour operators and give them a greater understanding of the extraordinary experiences the Territory offers.
“We want the NT to be front of mind when international travel sellers are building Australian itineraries, and events like these help us build the knowledge, connections and confidence to make that happen.”
The Northern Territory offers a compelling mix of experiences for international visitors, from the ancient landscapes and cultural richness of the Red Centre to the dramatic national parks, Aboriginal-led experiences and tropical adventures of the Top End.
Bringing industry delegates to Darwin will provide an opportunity to experience the destination, connect with local tourism operators and gain a deeper understanding of the breadth of experiences available across the Territory.
For NT tourism businesses, the event also presents an opportunity to strengthen relationships with the inbound tourism sector, explore new distribution opportunities and build connections with the operators who help shape international travel demand.
“Darwin is a fantastic destination for Meeting Place 2027, offering an opportunity to showcase the Northern Territory’s extraordinary tourism experiences and the diversity of its international visitor offering,” ATEC Managing Director Peter Shelley said.
Meeting Place is about building the connections and partnerships that drive Australia’s tourism exports, and taking the event to different parts of the country gives our international buyers a firsthand understanding of the destinations and experiences they can take to market.
“We’re looking forward to working with Tourism and Events Northern Territory to deliver another outstanding event, while putting Darwin and the region’s unique tourism offering in the spotlight.”
ATEC Meeting Place 2026, held in Hobart, hosted more than 600 tourism industry leaders with over 7,500 scheduled business appointments taking place.
The event reinforces the Northern Territory’s ambition to strengthen its position in international markets by working closely with the travel trade and ensuring the people selling Australia understand what makes the Territory a destination like no other.
