The NT's mandatory mask mandate will lift on Monday, but tour guide Rob Woods plans to keep asking travellers to wear one in enclosed spaces and when mingling with other groups until the risk of community transmission plummets.
"If the government says you can go out there and not wear masks, well I disagree with that, we're going to wear masks," Mr Woods said.
"We're getting everyone to wear masks in the bus, and that'll continue for as long as we think community transmission is a possibility."
The chief minister has announced the NT's mask mandate will end on Monday, with authorities confident the peak of its Omicron outbreak has now passed.
People will still need to wear masks in high-risk settings such as health and aged care facilities, but outside of that, they'll only need to wear one if they choose to.
But Mr Woods, who runs tours across the Top End including in Kakadu National Park, wants to do everything he can to keep staff, travellers and the broader community safe.
"I think we're getting a little bit ahead of ourselves in thinking we've overcome COVID," he said.
The NT re-opened its borders in December last year and has recently welcomed back fully-vaccinated international tourists.
This means this dry season — the NT's peak tourism period — overseas arrivals will be back in Kakadu and other national parks for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
And Mr Woods is not the only Northern Territory guide taking extra steps to avoid any potential spread of coronavirus.
Voluntary code of conduct for Kakadu
Tourism Top End General Manager Glen Hingley says his organisation is now seeking legal advice about what they can — and can not — include in a voluntary code of conduct for tour operators in Kakadu National Park.
"In the same way as a retail or hospitality venue can say, 'no shirt, no shoes, no service', where do the rights of tourism operators stop and start when it comes to vaccination and health policies?" Mr Hingley said.
"Importantly, we don't want to be discriminating against people."
Mr Hingley said the idea of developing a code arose at a recent meeting between tour operators and Traditional Owners.
It aims to give confidence to future travellers and assurances to Traditional Owners that guides are doing all they can to minimise potential risks.
"Sadly, after a long time of being COVID-free, the territory has COVID in and amongst pretty much all communities," Mr Hingley said.
"And with international tourists coming back into the country, there was a degree of concern of what could come in from overseas."
Although the exact details were still under development, Mr Hingley said the code would likely include a clause to only accept fully vaccinated international travellers and a commitment to immediately leave the park if anyone developed COVID-like symptoms.
Mr Hingley was hopeful the proposed code would be fully developed before Kakadu re-opened to the majority of tourists in April.
Mirarr Traditional Owners 'positive' about international tourism
Justin O'Brien is the chief executive of Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, which represents the Mirarr Traditional Owners.
He welcomed the plan to develop a code of conduct for Kakadu tour guides.
"The majority of people I speak to in the Indigenous community are positive about the return of international tourism," Mr O'Brien said.
"People understand that there are additional measures and protections in place when it comes to the park that are even above the CHO directions."
Mr O'Brien said Kakadu was a group destination: with many of the big attractions such as boat cruises and rock art tours operated by Indigenous people.
He said a voluntary industry-led code would be more "sustainable" than mandates in the long term.
Mr Woods said although "in principal" he welcomed the proposal to develop a code, most local operators were aware of their obligations and already committed to protecting the park: with many considering taking similar steps to his company.
