Interstate tourists spend big in SA

Interstate visitors are spending up when they see South Australia, with the state’s tourism industry reeling in a multi-million-dollar winter boost.

New National Visitor Survey data from the South Australian Tourism Commission shows South Australia saw 195,000 interstate overnight visitors spend $244 million in June 2022, with spend up 30 per cent on the same time last year.

Day trips to and within South Australia in June 2022 were also well above pre COVID levels, with 897,000 day trips and spend of $134 million, up 27 per cent on the same month in 2019.

The data shows travel to Adelaide is recovering strongly, with a $250 million spend in June – up 28 per cent on pre COVID.

It comes as STR accommodation data shows the historic rugby Wallabies/Wallaroos double-header in August attracted the second highest nightly revenue for Adelaide hotels since the pandemic began.

On Saturday 27 August when Adelaide Oval saw a record Rugby crowd of 36,336 and the CBD was alive with Rugby fans, Adelaide accommodation revenue for the night was $2.25 million. It also saw average occupancy at 86 per cent – more than 16 percentage points above the monthly average, and the fourth highest occupancy on record since pre-pandemic.

Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison said it was a fantastic sign of continued tourism recovery, with interstate visitors voting with their feet and hip pockets.

"We know winter is a traditionally quieter time for tourism so to have such strong interstate and day trips expenditure in June, as well as the boost for Adelaide’s visitor economy, which is well above pre COVID levels, is a wonderful achievement," she said.

"We also know events are a vital trigger for visitation to our state and the huge surge in CBD hotel revenue and occupancy for the night of last month’s Rugby double-header highlights just how powerful events can be."