SA to host major export tourism trade event for first time
Adelaide will welcome hundreds of travel buyers representing markets from across the globe when it hosts one of the nation’s flagship tourism industry events this October.
The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) has today confirmed Adelaide will host its annual Meeting Place trade event, attracting up to 500 tourism industry leaders to South Australia for three days of business-to-business meetings, networking events, and a conference program.
It is the first time ATEC’s biggest trade event will be hosted in Adelaide and comes as latest tourism data shows strong growth in international visitor spend.
Data from Tourism Research Australia shows international visitor expenditure in 2022 grew to $519 million, well above the recovery forecast of $314 million.
The growth in the international market helped drive South Australia’s total visitor expenditure in the 12 months to December 2022 to a record-high $8.3 billion.
ATEC Meeting Place 2023 will be held in Adelaide on 30 October to 1 November 2023. It is supported by the State Government through the South Australian Tourism Commission, as well as the Adelaide Airport and Adelaide Economic Development Agency.
Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison said it is terrific that Adelaide has secured ATEC’s flagship event, which will see our state welcome hundreds of travel buyers from around the world.
"While we’ve seen strong growth in international visitor spend in latest data, well ahead of predictions – we still have a way to go, which is why we’re doing everything we can to continue to rebuild this valuable market," Minister Bettison said.
"Hosting ATEC Meeting Place provides an opportunity to showcase South Australia directly to those who will help sell it internationally, playing an important role in the recovery of our state’s international visitor expenditure to $1.2 billion by December 2025 – and helping drive it more boldly towards our 2030 target of $3.3 billion."
ATEC Managing Director, Peter Shelley said hosting Meeting Place is a great opportunity for the state and city to reinforce its tourism offering as international visitors start to reengage with destination Australia.
"Meeting Place is an exceptional platform for showcasing South Australia, bringing together the people who sell Australia to the world and delivering them right to your front door," Mr Shelley said.
"With a concentrated number of international travel buyers gathered in one place, Meeting Place, with its 50-year history, is the most accessible interface for Australian export tourism businesses to put their products in front of the right people.
"South Australia offers an amazing diversity of experience and there has been considerable investment in creating and building tourism products and experiences which can meet the needs of international visitors and delegates will be keen to take a close look at the latest and greatest the state can offer."