Northern Territory Tourism Minister Malarndirri McCarthy will meet officials from Tiger Airways in Singapore today.

The airline stopped flying between Melbourne and Alice Springs earlier this year in a major blow for the local tourism industry.

Ms McCarthy hopes she can persuade Tiger to resume its flights to the Red Centre.

"They certainly have made it clear to me recently... that they did want to come back to Alice Springs," she said.

"I am still informed that that is their intention.

"What I want to do while in Singapore is to put a date on it and ask when can that flight get back to Alice Springs."

The Minister will also be visiting China this week to try to boost the number of Chinese visitors to the Territory.

Ms McCarthy says about 4,000 Chinese tourists holiday in the Territory each year.

She says local tourism operators are going through tough times and a boost in visitor numbers would help.

"We recognise in the Northern Territory that that challenge is certainly being felt by tour operators," she said.

"But one of the things that is incredibly pleasing about the tourism industry is the resilience of the industry.

"This visit to China is about furthering a very substantial and very sustainable long-term relationship for the tourism market in China and the Northern Territory."

Ms McCarthy says she will also push for direct flights between Darwin and China.

Darwin currently has international flights to Bali, Singapore, Manila and Ho Chi Minh City.