Nature-based tourism grants open soon | TDU race routes reveal | Go places with a career in tourism
Good news for those looking to establish or develop nature-based tourism offerings, with confirmation the next round of our Experience Nature Tourism Fund will open on Monday 8 July. Grants from $10,000 to $50,000 will support new and improved nature-based tourism products and experiences in or near a national park, reserve, wilderness protection area or marine park. I encourage interested operators to consider an application to the Fund; there is a range of resources available to help you prepare your application at tourism.gov.au.
Mark your calendars, the Santos Tour Down Under will return from 17-26 January 2025. Celebrating the milestone 25th year of Australia’s greatest cycling race, the routes pay homage to the event’s rich history with nostalgic races across Adelaide, Fleurieu Peninsula, Adelaide Hills, and Barossa.
I joined the TDU team and Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison earlier this week to launch the stages for the 2025 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) WorldTour men’s and women’s races. A highlight includes welcoming the race back to Adelaide’s East End – which holds a special place in TDU history – with a men’s circuit race through the East End streets.
The race routes were revealed as independent analysis shows the 2024 Santos Tour Down Under generated $87.2 million in attendee spend, attracting an estimated total attendance of 770,600.
Through our ‘Go places with a career in tourism’ campaign, three young South Australians had the chance to discover what a career in tourism might look like by going behind-the-scenes and experiencing a ‘day in the life’ with a variety of operators across the state. Their work experiences are now being promoted via our @southaustralia social channels, as well as out-of-home advertising and radio, to increase awareness of the diverse range of careers and pathways on offer within our industry. The campaign is being delivered under Austrade’s ‘Choose Tourism as a Career’ grant program.
This is part of our continued work to promote tourism and hospitality as a career path, encouraging more younger people to consider jobs in these sectors as they transition from school to further study or work. The campaign research found South Australians aged between 18-24 have the most potential to be attracted to tourism roles, and we will continue to help promote our diverse and exciting career opportunities to this key market.
Emma Terry
Chief Executive Officer
South Australian Tourism Commission