Year of SA Wine steps up, cruise sector's first steps back, border update & more...
There is a bit happening in the tourism space this week so I wanted to provide a quick snapshot of some of the activities under the watchful eye of the SATC.
It’s terrific that we are able to celebrate a few events this weekend, in particular the return of the Cellar Door Fest. The SATC is helping to celebrate the 2021 Year of South Australian Wine — so if you're going along over the next few days, keep an eye out on the big screen for the promotions (like that pictured above) and help support our wine sector by buying some excellent local products. The “Year of SA Wine” campaign was launched last month to help drive wine tourism and boost economic spend in SA’s wine regions. The SATC is throwing additional marketing support to wine regions and providing wineries with a toolkit to help grow their business. We are also encouraging visitors to regions to buy local and embrace the outstanding wine events and festivals we host across our state.
Read on for further industry updates.
Rodney Harrex
Chief Executive
Border restrictions ease
Good news to finish the week off with the reopening of the Western Australian border. Premier Steven Marshall announced today that the hard border closure with WA will be dropped immediately. Anyone who has already travelled to South Australia from WA and is currently self-quarantining can immediately leave quarantine, provided their first test has returned negative. The exemption does not apply to anyone who has been at the Sheraton Hotel in Perth — those people must stay in quarantine.
Travellers from Greater Melbourne are still required to take a COVID-19 test within 24 hours from arrival in South Australia and self-quarantine until they receive a negative test result. They must get tested again on day 5 and day 12. Visitors from Greater Sydney are also required to undertake a test on arrival and remain in isolation until a negative test is received.
I urge you to keep on top of any changes by checking the dedicated State Government’s COVID-19 page, including the travel restrictions page.
South Australia to set sail again
In a positive sign for our state’s cruise industry, we’re going to see some activity at Outer Harbor next week – when a Queensland-based, Australian-flagged Coral Expeditions vessel gets set for its first South Australian tour of some of our most remote coastlines.
While mostly South Australians seeing SA, it is welcome first steps toward the safe return of cruise. The SATC has been working to secure an expedition vessel since 2010. The 10-day South Australian tour follows 12 successful cruises by Coral Expeditions of the Great Barrier Reef out of Cairns in October 2020 and Tasmania’s wilderness coastlines out of Hobart this summer. It will be Coral Expeditions’ first in the state, as part of its expansion of domestic itineraries designed exclusively for the Australian market and capped at less than 100 passengers, and with some of the strictest health measures in place in any industry.
Coral Expeditions' Coral Adventurer will depart on its 10-day tour on 10 February visiting locations in Kangaroo Island, such as Antechamber Bay and Western River Cove, and the lower Eyre Peninsula including Lincoln National Park and Coffin Bay. Details here.
ATEC Japan Host – industry development program
South Australian tourism operators and industry are invited to a ‘Japan Host’ industry development program – training which provides a handbook and the tools and resources to assist industry in their development in welcoming the Japanese visitor. Hosted by Tourism Australia and ATEC, the Japan Host program is being delivered nationally, and is a commercially valuable brand, endorsed by government and industry leaders of the Japanese travel trade. The Japan Host learning program includes:
Module 1 – Culture Ready – Tuesday 16 February, 2 – 3.30pm
Module 2 – Service Ready – Wednesday 17 February, 2 – 3.30pm
Module 3 – Product Ready – Tuesday 23 February, 2 – 3.30pm
Module 4 – Trade Ready – Wednesday 24 February, 2 – 3.30pm.
Recordings will be available on demand via ATEC’s online learning portal. Graduates will receive digital badging (logo) to display their readiness. More information and tickets at: Japan Host SA.
Host an electric vehicle charging point at your business
Would you like your business site to be a part of the Statewide Electric Vehicle Charging Network? As part of its Electric Vehicle Action Plan, the South Australian Government is investing $13.4 million in developing a statewide electric vehicle charging network – helping address one of the key barriers to electric vehicle uptake – driving range anxiety.
The focus on fast and rapid charging in metropolitan, regional and remote areas will help make electric vehicles a more viable choice, providing benefits to both interstate trips and regional tourism.
Expressions of Interest are being sought from commercial property owners and tenants who would like their site to be considered as part of the network. Potential sites include shopping centres, hotels, motels and holiday parks in metropolitan, regional and remote areas across SA. Learn more here. Expressions of Interest close 12pm ACDT, Friday 15 February 2021.