South Australia welcomes its first international tourist flight in over a year

The South Australian Tourism Commission has today welcomed back our New Zealand friends – and the first international tourist flight into Adelaide for more than a year.

To celebrate the return of travellers from New Zealand, the SATC special teamed up with Adelaide Airport and iconic SA producers to create a special South Australian welcome for passengers touching down this morning.

Pre-COVID, New Zealand was South Australia’s fourth largest international inbound market, with a record 43,000 trips made by Kiwis to SA in 2019. Since the announcement of the trans-Tasman travel bubble, the SATC’s key tourism portal, southaustralia.com, has seen a 30% increase in visits from New Zealanders.

Premier Steven Marshall said he was delighted to welcome back South Australia’s first international market since border restrictions were put in place nation-wide over a year ago, and is looking forward to showing New Zealanders just what South Australia has to offer.

“Pre-COVID, New Zealand was South Australia’s fourth largest international inbound market, with a record 43,000 trips made by Kiwis to SA in 2019,” Mr Marshall said.

“This is why New Zealand is such an important market for our State. It’s going to create and sustain tourism jobs as well as investment at a time the sector needs it the most.

“Since the announcement of the trans-Tasman travel bubble, the SATC’s key tourism portal, southaustralia.com, has seen a 30% increase in visits from New Zealanders.

“I urge all New Zealanders to book a trip to South Australia over the coming months.

“From vineyard tours in the Barossa, to luxury escapes on Kangaroo Island, glamping in the Flinders Ranges to swimming with sea lions in Eyre Peninsula, New Zealanders will again be able to discover SA’s world-class food and drink, jaw-dropping landscapes, immersive wildlife experiences, vibrant city life and iconic coastal culture.”

Adelaide Airport Managing Director, Mark Young, said: “We’ve remained in contact with Air New Zealand throughout COVID and we’re delighted that they’ve resumed direct flights between Adelaide and Auckland. We’re also pleased that South Australians will now get to experience our brand new international departures area as part of Adelaide Airport’s terminal expansion project, while the new international arrivals hall is expected to be completed later this year.”

Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty says, “We’re really excited to take Kiwis over to the stunning South Australian wine country and we know Aussies are keen to experience our beautiful winter sports playground with our direct flights. To have nine of our Australian ports open is a really special moment for our airline after more than a year of being closed to each other.”

To give visitors a taste of South Australia, they were met by Major Sumner who performed a Welcome to Country and were treated to some of the state’s most iconic brands and products including freshly shucked oysters from Experience Coffin Bay, Maggie Beer canapes, Bleasdale sparkling shiraz, Haighs chocolates, and Jurlique skincare.