Voucher bookings begin, Regional Event Fund reminder, FOMO Fridays & more...
A great milestone today with tens of thousands of Great State Vouchers going out the door and already generating bookings for tour and experience operators across the state. We know that the best way to experience SA is with one of the many expert guides in our industry, and that’s a message we’re really pushing.
If you’re participating in round five, thank you and I encourage you to get behind the bookings drive. If you haven’t already received social media assets to use on your channels, you can get in touch with the team at [email protected].
It only gets better, as we get ready to open the ballot for the sixth round of vouchers, on Monday, which will stimulate overnight bookings for hotels and accommodation – brought forward by several weeks.
A reminder to regional event organisers that applications for round two of the South Australian Tourism Commission’s Regional Event Fund close at the end of this month.
If you’re hosting an event in the 2021-22 year, I encourage you to consider an application to the Fund – which has not only been allocated additional funding to support more events but also expanded to cover a greater range of purposes such as the engagement of short-term specialised personnel, hire of temporary infrastructure and marketing costs.
I also remind you that there is financial assistance available for large events which are cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19. The Major Events Support Grant provides grants of up to $100,000, where attendees at the event were expected to be greater than 10,000. It was included in a package announced this week to provide further financial support to small and medium sized tourism businesses impacted by ongoing COVID restrictions.
I’ve continued my regional visits this week, meeting operators and industry stakeholders across the Flinders Ranges and Outback, and Riverland. It’s been extremely valuable gathering real insight into the issues facing some of the more remote locations of our state, both this week and last when I was on the Eyre Peninsula. It’s also been encouraging to hear that intrastate tourism is still tracking well, and there is optimism for interstate to return strongly as soon as vaccination targets are met.
While I’ve been in regional SA, my team has been working on activating the CBD – which we know has been disproportionately impacted. So, if you are in or near the city, please check out our first FOMO Fridays events tomorrow.
Rodney Harrex
Chief Executive
Regional Event Fund – round two closing soon
Following round one of the SATC’s Regional Event Fund supporting 37 regional events – including 16 events which received support through the Fund for the first time, and eight which are entirely new events to SA – round two applications are nearing a close.
An extra $1 million was allocated for regional events, in an aim to strengthen the state’s regional event calendar – and regional economies – and help bring new events to SA.
The 2021-22 Fund supports events held until 30 August 2022, with grants available from $5,000 to more than $50,000 under four categories.
Round two applications close Thursday 30 September 2021.
More information at our Regional Event Fund page.
FOMO Fridays kicks off
Four Fridays over the next four weeks will see Australia’s most liveable city offer even more, as part of the $700,000 FOMO Fridays initiative – driving visitation and expenditure to the CBD, as part of the recently launched #GoToTown campaign.
FOMO Fridays starts tomorrow, 17 September with day-time activities in Victoria Square including morning yoga, basketball and live music; and from 4pm, office workers will be enticed into the city with a Westpac House Party as well as offers from local restaurants, bars and hotels, and even free parking.
Friday 24 September will activate Adelaide’s riverbank, Rundle Mall, and Gresham and Gilbert laneways. The next two Fridays include Light Square and Waymouth Street, as well as Hindmarsh Square and the East End.
More information via our media release.
See the full Industry Update – 16 September 2021 here.