THE START IS WITH A BANG –

CONTINUING –

UNTIL A WHIMPERING END.

So many airlines come to the NT,

They start routes into this place,

With much fanfare,

Often on the strength of government encouragement grants,

And the underwriting and subsidising of operational costs,

Much hoopla greets their arrival.

They are received by dancers,

Inaugural passengers are offered giveaways,

Everyone is made to feel important,

Self congratulations become the domain,

Of politicans,

Tourist CEO’s,

Airline operators (who welcome the offered subsidies).

Icebreakiing – less than cost – airfares lure customers,

Who come in their droves,

Until the airfares rise,

And the realisation of NT costs of living,

Particularly accomodation,

Hit the wallet hard.

There may also be the realisation,

That its their money,

More than them as visitors,

Is a prime motivator.

On top of that,

Far too many visitors come to know,

From first hand encountering experience,

That Darwin,

Palmerston,

Katherine,

Tennant Creek,

Alice Springs,

And all places to the north, south, east and west,

Can expose visitors,

To the realities of property loss,

Even personal attack,

Because of criminal propensity.

(The dangers in the NT are not exclusive,

They are everywhere.)

Note: The NT Government heavily subsidises airline costs to encourage them