Tourism support, national award winners, multi-millions festival boost & more...
South Australia will have a new Tourism Minister this week, with confirmation today from Premier Peter Malinauskas that his new cabinet will be sworn in at Government House on Thursday morning.
The Premier also provided a briefing on upcoming COVID management processes, including the disbanding of the existing COVID Ready Committee and his desire to move towards the national guidelines relating to close contact isolation and quarantine rules.
The state’s COVID management will now be the responsibility of the Emergency Management Council (an existing sub committee of Cabinet). This group will meet on Friday morning, and I hope to provide you with a further update after that.
Ahead of next week’s Federal Budget, Prime Minister Scott Morrison will today announce a $60 million tourism investment.
It includes $45 million over two years for Tourism Australia in a bid to attract more international visitors and a focus on regional destinations which have been impacted heavily by the loss of international tourists.
Further assistance is also available for eligible travel agents and tour operators who continue to support consumers to rebook their travel using existing COVID-related travel credits.
The Federal Government is providing $75.5 million in targeted support for travel agents and tour providers as part of the program which opens soon for the third round of grants.
Read on for details and further updates.
Rodney Harrex
Chief Executive
Regional Event Fund – last weeks to apply
Organisers of regional events are encouraged to get their application in for the South Australian Tourism Commission’s Regional Event Fund.
The Fund supports events across South Australia and covers a range of funding purposes including the hire of short-term specialised personnel and temporary infrastructure, develop strategic plans, and marketing.
The 2022-23 Fund will support events held between 1 September 2022 and 30 August 2023.
Regional events supported through last year’s Fund include the Fringe Mt Gambier (on this weekend), Seafood on Spencer in the Yorke Peninsula next month, and the upcoming Oakbank Easter Racing Carnival.
Applications for round one close at 5pm on Friday, 22 April 2022. Round two will open in August 2022.
SA represents in national tourism awards
South Australian tourism operators have been recognised in the Australian Tourism Industry Council’s 2021 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.
Representing six of the state’s regions, they include Fleurieu Peninsula’s Beach Huts Middleton which took home gold in its accommodation category.
Other SA winners are: Bendleby Ranges in Flinders Ranges and Outback; Murray River Trails in Riverland; Vasse Virgin in Barossa; Seppeltsfield Wines in Barossa; Woodhouse Activity Centre in Adelaide Hills; and Eos by SkyCity and The Guardsman in Adelaide.
A huge congratulations to SA winners, helping highlight the strength of the state as a must-see destination.
Festival season pumps millions into state
Adelaide’s world-class festival season is (almost) officially wrapped up and early results are in.
Visitors have flocked to the city to experience the Fringe, Adelaide Festival and WOMADelaide, as well as booking up hotels and spending in the hospitality around them.
The weekend of 4 & 5 March saw average occupancy for Adelaide hotels of 85 per cent, creating revenue of $3.5 million.
The Fringe sold more than 700,000 tickets worth almost $20 million – up on last year’s $16.4 million – with 3.2 million total attendances over the 31 days.
The Fringe has extended shows in its Gluttony festival hub and has put on encore shows of its centrepiece show, Sky Song.
Due to popular demand, Sky Song will run this weekend on 25 and 26 March.
More support for travel agents and tour operators
As part of $75.5 million in targeted Federal Government support for travel agents and tour arrangement service providers, applications for round three of the COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Program (CTSP) will open soon.
Round three is open to businesses who have received a CTSP round two or round two multi-outlet payment along with a new stream for eligible travel agents and tour providers that commenced operations in 2019.
Grants of $7,500 to $90,000 will be provided based on the eligible turnover and reference period.
Applications for round three open on 29 March and close 20 April 2022.
See the Industry Update – 22 March 2022.