Message from the Tourism Minister

From Andrew's Desk

South Australian Tourism Celebrates 100 Years

The promotion of South Australian tourism began 100 years ago last month, with the opening on 17 August 1908 of the first South Australian Tourist Bureau on King William Street - staffed by one tourist agent and two employees.

Today, the renamed South Australian Tourism Commission continues the work that began a century ago - selling South Australia as a holiday destination to the world from the same location in which it began.

South Australian Tourism Commission Chief Executive Andrew McEvoy said that last month the SATC's 190 staff moved into the location on King William Street where the first South Australian Tourist Bureau opened its doors.

"While the building is new, the location means we're getting back to our roots," Mr McEvoy said.

"While many things have changed in the 100 years since tourism marketing began in our State, many remain the same.

"In the early twentieth century, horse-drawn coaches took visitors to see the sights of the Adelaide Hills, and visitors travelled by train to Victor Harbor - these destinations remain popular with tourists to this day.

"Tourists also cruised the Murray River in the early days of South Australian tourism, just as they do aboard houseboats today.

"Other popular early tourist destinations were the official National Pleasure Parks. By 1920, there were eight of these in South Australia, including Waterfall Gully, Mount Loft Summit, Morialta Falls, the Naracoorte Caves, Hazelwood Park, and Brownhill Creek.
 
"We tend to think of adventure tourism as a relatively recent phenomenon, but well before the first South Australian Tourist Bureau even opened, intrepid visitors were exploring the state in the name of adventure. 

"As early as 1848 the sailing vessel Emma Sherratt had taken a 'pleasure party' on a publicly-advertised tour to Port Lincoln, returning to Port Adelaide via Kingscote, Kangaroo Island.

"Today, the SATC is dedicated to marketing South Australia to the world through modern marketing techniques, but it is always interesting to look at the lessons of the past as we celebrate our centenary - 100 years of building tourism in South Australia."

The centenary celebrations will continue at the South Australian Tourism Awards gala dinner on 22 November, at the Adelaide Convention Centre. For tickets to this stellar event, contact Bianca Borrett on 08 8463 4626.

World Food Exchange Speakers Announced

South Australia's food and wine producers can learn how to take advantage of the world's growing culinary tourism market at the World Food Exchange 2008.

The inaugural event will be held between 21 and 25 September, and will bring together leading international and Australian experts to share their knowledge and expertise with South Australia's food and wine and tourism industries.

Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith has unveiled the program for this year's World Food Exchange, which will feature some of Australia's top culinary tourism pioneers.

"This is an excellent opportunity for South Australians to learn more about the potential of culinary tourism from two of the country's leading experts," she said.

"We are delighted that James (Jim) Carreker and Alla Wolf-Tasker are joining the World Food Exchange to share their knowledge with South Australia's food, wine and tourism industry."

Jim Carreker, formerly from California, is managing director and owner of South Australian fine dining and hospitality enterprise, Arbutus Hospitality Group.

His Barossa-based businesses include the renowned Appellation restaurant, private vineyard residence Atrium at Greenock Creek, and the 2007 Australian Tourism Award-winning luxury retreat, The Louise.

Alla Wolf-Tasker is the driving force behind Lake House in Daylesford Victoria, a multi-award-winning luxury hotel, restaurant and spa that is one of Australia's most highly regarded gourmet retreats. She was in 2007 admitted as a Member of the Order of Australia for her services to the tourism and hospitality industry.

Other leading experts include:

• K. Dun Gifford, president of the food issues think-tank from the United States, Oldways Preservation Trust
• David Rosengarten, a travel writer, cookbook author and TV journalist who is one of the world's foremost authorities on food, wine and cooking
• Jo Seinfeld whose work to promote the Franschhoek wine region helped it become one of South Africa's leading tourist destinations

The event will also feature regional tours, workshops and showcase dinners in the Eyre Peninsula and the Barossa.

The industry workshops will be an important platform for regional food and wine producers, restaurateurs and tourism operators to discuss and get practical advice on how to develop world-class culinary tourism experiences in their region.

The regional showcase dinners will provide great networking opportunities and the not-to-be-missed chance to experience some of the best food and wine South Australia has to offer.

Find out more about the World Food Exchange program, with participation prices start from $55 per regional industry workshop.

$3 Million Adelaide Rail Terminal Launched

The redevelopment of the Adelaide Parklands Rail Terminal - previously called the Keswick Railway Station - provides a world-class gateway for visitors arriving in Adelaide by train.

Tourism Minister Dr Jane Lomax-Smith said the State Government had worked with Great Southern Rail to ensure the new terminal would welcome passengers from different train lines in style.

"Adelaide is the only city in the world where passengers can catch trains on one of two trans-continental routes so that rail tourism is an important economic driver for our State," she said.

Both the Ghan, which travels between Adelaide and Darwin, and the Indian Pacific, which travels between Perth and Sydney, stop in Adelaide at the Parklands Rail Terminal.

The Overland, which travels from Melbourne to Adelaide, will also stop at the terminal. All three trains are operated by Great Southern Rail, which undertook the major redevelopment with support of a $150,000 grant from the State Government.

"Rail tourism is not only important for Adelaide but also for the towns and communities in regional South Australia through which the Ghan, Indian Pacific and The Overland pass," Dr Lomax-Smith said.

"These trains boost tourism around the state and inject important tourism dollars into regional communities."

The $3 million redevelopment includes complete refurbishment of the building's interior including re-decoration of the guest waiting area and amenities, and redevelopment of the terminal platform.

Guide to improve South Australian Trails

South Australia is renowned for its network of trails, which are perfect for walkers, hikers and mountain bikers. They include such famous landmarks as the Heysen Trail - a 1,200 km walking trail that extends from Cape Jervis, on the rugged south coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula - to Parachilna Gorge, in the Flinders Ranges.

In order to further improve our network of trails for recreation and tourism, the South Australian Trails Coordination Committee (SATCC), of which the South Australian Tourism Commission is a member, is working to develop consistent trail policy, management, marketing and support for ongoing development of the trail network in South Australia.

The SATC will work to enhance trail design, encourage better links between trails and other community assets and visitor attractions.

As part of this role the SATCC has prepared guidelines for the 'Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance of Recreational Trails in SA'. The guidelines provide a step-by-step process with tools to assist land managers, community groups and trail builders to develop better trails and, as a result, provide better trail experiences for visitors to our State.

Read more about the guidelines at South Australian Trails

Clipsal 500 Adelaide Still Number One

 Deputy Premier Kevin Foley has announced that next year's Clipsal 500 Adelaide has been scheduled for 19-22 March 2009, and will again be the first round of the 2009 V8 Supercars Australia Championship Series.

Mr Foley described the timing as a good fit with other cultural and sporting events scheduled for the traditionally busy March period.  The timing will also ensure that the event enjoys the best of Adelaide's weather.

"The 2009 event will also be the first to make use of the new state-of-the-art temporary buildings being constructed on the Victoria Park site," Mr Foley says.

Advanced bookings for Grandstand tickets and corporate sales prior to the announcement of the 2009 date are already well ahead of the same time last year.

Details of the full race program and the concert line-up together with added attractions will be announced at the Official Launch of the 2009 Clipsal 500 Adelaide to be held at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on 31 October this year.

Read more about corporate hospitality and public ticket options for the 2009 Clipsal 500 Adelaide

The Barossa a Food and Wine Tourism Leader

The Barossa is setting the Australian benchmark for food and wine tourism, a new report shows.

The Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre's latest report identifies the Barossa as a leader in attracting visitors to experience food and wine tourism. The report also identifies an increasing demand among consumers for food and wine tourism experiences.

The Food and Wine Tourism in Australia report shows the Barossa is the best place in the country for visitors to experience the attractions they expect in a food and wine tourism destination, including a rural setting, strong heritage values, established events and a diverse range of activities.

Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says the findings of the report confirm what South Australians have always known - the Barossa is far more than just a world-class wine region.

"Its food culture is unique, and its calendar of events attracts thousands of visitors each year to enjoy the region's famous hospitality and flair for festivities," she says.

In the year to March 2008, the Barossa attracted 197,000 domestic visitors who spent 575,000 nights in the region - up 9% on a year ago.

State Tourism Plan - Final Chance to Have Your Say

The draft of the South Australian Tourism Plan 2009-2014 will be available for industry comment from 1 October via the SATC's corporate website

The past six months have seen many people contribute either through online surveys, written submissions and/or expert workshops.

Several common themes and issues have emerged, which have underlined  exactly needs to be addressed by the plan.

We have been very deliberate in selecting a minimal number of significant “big picture” actions to pursue over the next six years. Those selected are the ones that will impact the most on our economic, social and environmental targets.

The SATC are keen to gather as much feedback on this draft as possible and in order to make this easy for you we have loaded a feedback template on to the corporate website. Please use this to provide comment and email back to us as instructed.

Feedback is required by Friday, 24 October.

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If you aren't accredited you should be... but don't just take our word for it, got to  SA Tourism Accreditation Board website to see what accredited operators have to say.

ATEC and SATC Sign Memorandum of Understanding

The South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) and the Australian Tourism Export Council's (ATEC) South Australian branch have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), formalising the co-operative working relationship.

ATEC is the peak industry body representing the interests of tourism export companies throughout Australia. Its South Australian branch was established in 1995.

Programs covered by the MOU include Discover SA, Talk SA, overseas trade events and inbound tour operator familiarisation trips.

Major Tourism Investment in Flinders Ranges

One of Australia's most visionary tourism identities is set to take the Flinders Ranges to the next level with the purchase of renowned Wilpena Pound Resort from long-term owners and Flinders Ranges' icons, the Rasheed family.

Grant Hunt, head of the new company Anthology the Travellers' Collection, and the driving force behind eco-tourism operator Voyages, recently took ownership of Wilpena Pound Resort, with a view to rejuvenating the property in the next 12 months.

It is the company's first expansion into South Australia, and signals a major investment in the State and the Flinders Ranges.

South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) Chief Executive Andrew McEvoy said the announcement was a huge bonus for tourism in South Australia.   
"Anthology is a new company which has signalled its intention to make real inroads into the high-end tourism industry and for Grant and his team to choose the Flinders Ranges as one of its first major projects is a great vote of confidence for South Australia," he said.

"This is another example of a major tourism operator that is willing to invest in South Australia. It also reiterates that our tourism industry is well-positioned for growth in the next few years, particularly in iconic regions such as the Flinders Ranges."

"It also shows that South Australia offers a positive environment for investors. This project was a collaborative effort between a range of government departments to facilitate the deal."  
Mr McEvoy said Grant Hunt had a fantastic track record in developing visionary tourism experiences around Australia and welcomed his investment and commitment to South Australia.   
"Anthology is taking over the reigns of one of this State's leading tourism developments in Wilpena Pound Resort and arguably one of South Australia's most well-recognised families - the Rasheeds," he said.

"Keith, Lynette, Dean and Lizzie Rasheed have committed so much to tourism in South Australia and the Flinders Ranges, and were instrumental in positioning the region as one of our leading tourism drawcards.

"The Rasheeds have lived most of their lives in the Flinders Ranges, with their father Kevin Rasheed beginning the business in the 1950s. Their commitment to developing the Resort, and rejuvenating it in the past 10 years has been fantastic.

"While this is an end of an era in one sense, it is the start of a new and exciting era for the region and for the Resort."

Mentoring Program realises SA's Tourism Potential

Under a mentoring program launched this month, South Australia's future stars of the tourism industry will learn the business from some of the State's most experienced and successful business leaders.

Young Australian Tourism Export Council (YATEC) Chairperson Gemma Foord, who came up with the idea for the mentoring program, said she felt it was important for the future of tourism in South Australia that we retain and nurture young South Australians who have a passion for the industry.

Miss Foord met with the YATEC committee and decided to approach highly successful industry leaders to ask them if they would be prepared to mentor a selection of young people from the State's tourism industry.

"It was so encouraging that they were willing to be involved," Miss Foord said.

She said the positive response from the industry, individuals and companies wanting to be a part of the initiative proved that such a mentoring program was needed to provide a link between those who had 'made it' and those who want to.

Under the program, mentors have agreed to commit at least one hour a month for 12 months meeting one-on-one with a young tourism professional between 20 and 35 years old.

They will also attend YATEC functions and take an active interest in the progression of the selected individual.

Tourism Minister, Jane Lomax-Smith, said that the list of mentors includes past and present CEOs and board members of the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC), Adelaide Convention Centre, tourism operators and major hotels.

"This is an incredible opportunity for young South Australians to benefit from the experience and guidance of those who have made tourism such a vibrant and successful industry in our State," Minister Lomax-Smith said.

SATC Chief Executive, Andrew McEvoy, who along with SATC Chair Bob Foord has agreed to be a mentor, is pleased with the very positive response from the tourism sector to the program.

"Mentoring has proven to be an excellent and highly successful way to develop future leaders to be valuable members of businesses an industry," Mr McEvoy said.

For more information on YATEC and the mentoring program, contact Gemma Foord on 08 8217 6100 or email gfoord@proud.com.au.