Voucher ballot open, road trips on show, apply for event funding, & more…
In an important milestone for our river recovery, the third and final River Revival Voucher ballot is now open. The round will build on the estimated $10.7 million the program has already injected into the flood affected Riverland and Murray River, Lakes & Coorong regions. The timing of this voucher round will help continue bookings and visitation following the traditionally peak summer season.
Eager travellers have until 11:59pm tomorrow to enter the ballot for a chance to score $100, $200 and $750 vouchers available for use on accommodation and experiences across the Murray River, Lakes & Coorong and Riverland regions.
Industry can help share the news with assets available to download in our River Revival Toolkit.
South Australia’s iconic road trips were in the spotlight over the past five days thanks to the Let’s Go Caravan, Camping & Outdoor Show at the Adelaide Showground. The event was expected to attract more than 25,000 attendees, being inspired by our operators sharing why SA is a top self-drive destination.
The event was also an opportunity to further support our flood affected Murray River regions, with a five-part ‘Magic of the Mighty Murray’ panel session and dedicated exhibition booth. It was great to see the immersive displays first-hand at the event launch – I have no doubt attendees left thinking about hitting the road in SA.
An opportunity for event organisers, with applications for our 2024-25 Regional Event Fund (REF) open now until Monday 6 May. This round will support established and developing events held between 1 September 2024 and 31 August 2025.
It was great to experience one of our currently supported regional events, the Kangaroo Island Cup Carnival held last week. It was wonderful to be part of the racing action on the Island with our Executive Director Destination Development, Nick Jones.
Speaking of events, you may have spotted the Tasting Australia presented by RAA Travel printed program around the place, inspiring readers to book events right across our state. This followed a whole menu of new events added to the already popular line up, including the new Town Square Canteen which will be serving up authentic hospitality and food from six regional SA venues and bolstering the event’s support of our regions.
The crowds came out for the opening of the Adelaide Fringe on Friday, signalling that we have officially entered our festival season. It was the first of many nights set to help fill our city's hotels, restaurants, and bars, while the many regional events help spread the benefits of the Adelaide Fringe across our state.
Finally, I am proud to share South Australia has taken home the Most OutThere Brand Award in the OutThere’s Experientialist Awards 23-24. Beating the likes of San Francisco, we were recognised for our ‘tourism emphasis on fascinating people and spellbinding nature, celebrating an unwavering multicultural spirit (and respect for their Indigenous Peoples) that pushes the frontiers of experiential travel'. This is made possible by the diverse and unique tourism offerings our operators and industry continually innovate.
Emma Terry
Chief Executive Officer
South Australian Tourism Commission