China Southern Airlines returns, LIV Golf dates, shipshape conference, & more…
In a major milestone for our international market recovery, China Southern Airlines will resume direct flights to Adelaide from December 2024. The major international airline will fly three times per week return direct from Guangzhou to Adelaide, securing a significant tourism and trade boost for South Australia.
The tourism economic impact of three direct non-stop China Southern Airline flights per week is estimated to generate more than $69 million annually and create in excess of 255 full-time equivalent tourism related jobs for South Australians.
Not only with this connect us to our second largest international tourism market, but to other markets including Asia, the Middle East, Africa as well as Europe and North America.
This is the outcome of our continued work with Adelaide Airport to reinstate direct major international airlines flights to Adelaide - such as Emirates, which will make its return next month.
To mark the occasion, I joined Premier Peter Malinauskas, Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison, and Minister for Trade and Investment Joe Szakacs at Adelaide Airport, together with the Acting Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in Adelaide Mr Lijun Pi, China Southern Regional General Manager Australia & NZ Mr Zhixing Sun, and Adelaide Airport Managing Director Brenton Cox along with members of the SATC and Adelaide Airport teams.
Earlier this month, Adelaide welcomed almost 160 leading cruise industry delegates for the 2024 Australian Cruise Association Annual Conference. We heard great feedback from attendees, who went away with South Australia being top of mind to include in future cruise itineraries. This is a highly valuable outcome, as we work to grow this multi-million-dollar sector.
Making headlines across the world, LIV Golf Adelaide is moving to a summer timeslot, returning to The Grange Golf Course from 14-16 February 2025. In 2024, injected $71.1 million into our visitor economy – up 10 per cent on the inaugural event in 2023 – and generated more than 79,000 visitor nights in our state, with visitors staying an average of almost four nights.
This is a huge win for our tourism operators, who can now begin preparing for another influx of golf fans in February.
Expressions of interest are now open for the second intake of our Experience Development Program. This is an opportunity for operators across the state to turn your innovative product or experience idea into reality with training from our industry experts. Register your EOI by 5pm this Friday, 20 September.
Emma Terry
Chief Executive Officer
South Australian Tourism Commission