Gagudju Dreaming, operators of a variety of Kakadu businesses including the Crocodile Hotel, Cooinda Lodge, Yellow Water Cruises and Spirit of Kakadu Adventure Tours, is relaunching as Kakadu Tourism.
The change of name is designed to make it easier for international and domestic tourists to identify the hotel and tourism products offered by the group, and will complement the change of hotel management (as of 1 April 2014) from IHG to Accor at the Crocodile Hotel and Cooinda Lodge.
“Gagudju is a traditional way of saying Kakadu in some parts of the Top End, but for the industry it was often confusing,” said Rex Wild, Chair of Kakadu Tourism.
“Kakadu is known around the world as one of the great names in adventure and cultural tourism and in an era of digital and online search, there is an even greater priority to be clear and as straight-forward as possible. With the change of hotel management taking place at the end of March, we thought it time to consolidate the various entities under the one name – Kakadu Tourism.
“We have been introducing the new name at trade events such as the recent NT Muster, and we will be particularly showcasing the new organisation and product at ATE in May.
“Kakadu might have been off the tourism radar for a while, but with a new team on board and a whole new energy and direction, we are looking forward to re-introducing operators to the wonders of Kakadu and welcoming back their clients to our hotels and tourism experiences,” he said.
Kakadu Tourism comprises the Crocodile Hotel at Jabiru, some 2.5-hours drive south east of Darwin, and Cooinda Lodge, which is located next to the Yellow Water Billabong and is part of a hotel/tourism operation that includes the 48 room Lodge as well as a large camping site, the award-winning Yellow Water Cruises, Yellow Water Fishing, Spirit of Kakadu Adventure Tours, a general store, fuel station and the Warradjan Cultural Centre.
The hotels were the first major tourism properties developed in Australia by an Indigenous organisation. The Crocodile Hotel opened in 1988, shortly after the Crocodile Dundee films put the international tourism spotlight on the Kakadu region and its spectacular natural attractions.