Current News
[Search Archive]
International Visitors Boost SA Economy
10th March 2010
International visitors spent $659 million in South Australia last year – an increase of 23 per cent compared to 2008.
Steve Kernaghan, of the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC), said that the figures released today by Tourism Research Australia show South Australia’s appeal as a world-class tourism destination continuing to climb, and weathering the turmoil of the current global economic climate better than most other states.
"While international visitor expenditure soared last year in South Australia, the national average was only three per cent growth," Mr Kernaghan said.
"Around 360,600 international visitors spent 7.2 million nights in our State last year – an increase of 5.6 per cent on 2008 figures."
Mr Kernaghan said that, while the bulk of South Australia’s tourism revenue came from the domestic market, the SATC recognised the importance of wooing high-yield international travellers to our State.
"We have positioned our State internationally as a boutique destination appealing to discerning, well-seasoned travellers," he said.
"The SATC’s international offices right around the world are investing in strategic partnerships with travel wholesalers, retail agencies and airline partners to spread the word about the brilliant blend of authentic, sophisticated experiences on offer for international visitors in South Australia.
"These latest statistics clearly show that our international marketing approach, coupled with our focus on increasing international air access into our State, is paying dividends for our tourism industry."
More than 30 direct international flights now land in Adelaide each week - up from 13 in 2003.
Mr Kernaghan said the increase in flights demonstrated the growing stature of our State as an important international holiday destination in the eyes of the world’s travel industry and major airlines.
"The SATC is also committed to raising the State’s international profile and enticing visitors to holiday in South Australia through our management and support for an ever-growing line-up of world-class major events," he said.
"For instance, the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under alone drew almost 40,000 international and interstate visitors to our State, injecting $41.5 million into the State’s economy.
"We will have a fantastic opportunity to further build our international profile in May, when the Australian Tourism Exchange is held in Adelaide for only the second time in the event’s history, bringing more than 700 travel experts from 40 countries to experience our State’s best tourism attractions first-hand.
"Our aggressive domestic marketing push has already proved a success, bringing in $8 in interstate visitor expenditure for every dollar we have spent on the campaign, and now we are seeing our investment in international marketing paying off, bringing us ever-closer to our ultimate goal of making tourism a $6.3 billion industry for our State by 2014."
Media contact:
Public Relations Unit,
telephone +61 8 8463 4500
or email
satc.pr.publications@saugov.sa.gov.au
SA Stories Archive
The Word Around Archive
World's Largest Ocean Liner to Visit Adelaide
9th March 2010
The world's largest ocean liner, Cunard Lines' Queen Mary 2, arrives in Adelaide this Thursday (11 March).
The 345-metre long liner will be carrying around 2500 passengers and 1300 crew when she arrives at Outer Harbor from Sydney at 8am before departing for Western Australia at 6pm.
View More >>
Diamonds to Host Silver Ferns at Adelaide Entertainment Centre
3rd March 2010
Netball Australia announced today that the Australian Diamonds will take on arch-rivals the New Zealand Silver Ferns at the newly refurbished Adelaide Entertainment Centre as part of the Holden Netball Test Series in August.
It will be the first time the two teams have met in Adelaide since a sell-out crowd saw the Diamonds take honours at the Adelaide Dome in 2007.
View More >>
New iPhone 'app' for Adelaide
26th February 2010
Visitors to Adelaide will have the best of the city's tourism offerings at their fingertips with the launch of a new free Adelaide City GPS and Audio Tour iPhone 'app' which is now live.
South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) Executive General Manager Marketing and Sales, Steve Kernaghan, says the 'app' has been supported by the SATC's Tourism Development Fund which invests in tourism initiatives which draw visitors to the State and enhance their stay while here.
View More >>
First Direct Flight from China arrives in Adelaide
The first direct passenger flight from China arrived in Adelaide today, providing a non-stop air link into South Australia from the world’s most populous nation.
he flight arrival has been welcomed by Adelaide Airport (AAL), the Department of Trade and Economic Development and the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC), who are working together to increase flight and passenger numbers into Adelaide from key domestic and international destinations.
View More >>
200 Cellar Doors star in new SA Tourism Marketing push
South Australia’s famed wine industry is the focus of a new tourism marketing push that firmly positions Adelaide and South Australia as the nation’s wine tourism capital.
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says the South Australian Tourism Commission’s new Cellar Door campaign is aimed firmly at high-yield, wine-loving east coast visitors.
View More >>
SA Wins Major Diving Events
7th February 2010
The world's best young divers will be on show at the new State Aquatic Centre, when Adelaide hosts the 19th FINA World Diving Junior Championships in 2012.
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says she is delighted to announce that the International Swimming Federation (FINA) has just signed the contract officially awarding Diving Australia the rights to stage the prestigious event in South Australia.
View More >>
The Return of SA's Favourite Holiday Guide
6th February 2010
The 2010 edition of the State’s most popular holiday guide, South Australian Shorts, is now available, offering South Australians a host of new experiences to enjoy combined with plenty of holiday favourites.
View More >>
New Tourism CEO Appointed
Experienced international business leader Ian Darbyshire has been appointed the new Chief Executive of the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC).
Mr Darbyshire will replace Andrew McEvoy who is now leading Tourism Australia.
Announcing the appointment, SATC Chairman Bob Foord said Mr Darbyshire was chosen out of a strong field of candidates from overseas, interstate and across South Australia.
View More >>
SA Tourism Tops the Class
South Australia has outstripped every other State for growth in tourism expenditure this year, recording a 9% rise to make tourism a $4.6 billion industry in South Australia. The State’s tourism industry has also topped the nation in terms of growth in interstate holiday purpose visitors this year, according to new National Visitor Survey statistics.
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says it’s great news as the State’s tourism operators prepares for their busiest time of the year.
View More >>
New Team Sky To Make UCI ProTour Debut Down Under
7th December 2009
Britain's new professional road cycling team, Team Sky, will make their worldwide debut at the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under in Adelaide.
Santos Tour Down Under Race Director, Mike Turtur, expects the team to do well in its inaugural race.
View More >>
SA Tourism Outperforms National Industry
13 October 2009
Newly released accommodation figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show the South Australian tourism industry is holding its own in a testing economic climate.
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says the results show South Australia’s tourism accommodation operators are outperforming the national average in key measures of room demand, occupancy rates and takings per room.
View More >>
2009 Tour Down Under Named Best Tourism Event
9th October 2009
The 2009 Tour Down Under was named the Best Tourism Event at the inaugural Australian Event Awards at a ceremony last night in Sydney.
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says the award gives well-deserved recognition to the event, which has become the biggest cycling race in the Southern Hemisphere and a major tourism attraction.
Other winners included Carols by Candlelight (best charity or cause-related event), School of Management, University of SA (best education program), Adelaide Fringe 2009 and BankSA (best partnership by a business or media outlet).
View More >>
The countdown is on...only 38 sleeps to go
9th October 2009
Two impressive new floats and intricately designed costumes have been revealed today as Adelaide counts down to the much-anticipated 2009 Credit Union Christmas Pageant.
Chloe Fox, Member for Bright, unveiled two of the six new floats that will feature in this year’s Credit Union Christmas Pageant, on Saturday 14 November. The remaining floats will be unveiled over the coming weeks.
Ms Fox, at today’s launch, said that in its 77th year the theme for the 2009 Credit Union Christmas Pageant is ‘families sharing memories’.
View More >>
Cancer council And Santos Tour Down Uner Charity Partnership Continues In 2010
9th October 2009
Cancer Council SA will again have naming rights for the prelude event to the Santos Tour Down Under next year. The event will be known as the Cancer Council Helpline Classic.
The event – to be held in Adelaide’s Rymill Park on Sunday 17 January 2010 – will raise awareness of cancer and promote the Cancer Council Helpline (13 11 20).
For the first time, the Cancer Council Helpline Classic will be broadcast live on SBS. This year’s Classic attracted almost 140,000 people.
View More >>
Talks On Extending Pro-Tour Licence For Santos TDU
29th August 2009
Premier Mike Rann met with UCI President Pat McQuaid in London to discuss the extension of the Santos Tour Down Under’s ProTour license, and the growth of the event.
“The process is now underway for the Santos Tour Down Under to remain in the top league of international cycling – the UCI ProTour,” Mr Rann said.
“The Santos Tour Down Under’s current ProTour licence runs until 2011 and we have now submitted an application to extend this until 2013.
View More >>
Lance To Ride In South Australia Again Next Year
28/8/09
Cycling legend Lance Armstrong will return to South Australia to compete in the Tour Down Under in January 2010.
Premier Mike Rann confirmed the seven-time Tour de France winner’s return to Australia following a meeting with Lance Armstrong in Dublin.
“I’m delighted to announce that Lance Armstrong will be back in Adelaide to race in next year’s Tour Down Under,” said Premier Rann.
View More >>
Tour Down Under Joins Forces With Santos
28/08/09
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith today announced Santos as the new naming rights sponsor of the Tour Down Under.
The four-year deal will see the Tour, which in 2009 became the biggest sporting event in South Australian history, renamed the Santos Tour Down Under.
“Having grown from strength to strength since its inception in 1999, the Santos Tour Down Under is a truly world-class event; kicking off the world cycling calendar and attracting the heroes of the sport to compete in Adelaide,” Dr Lomax-Smith said.
View More >>
Tasting Australia to showcase the best of South Australia
21/08/09
Tens of thousands of people will have the chance to sample South Australia’s world class food and wine at next year’s Tasting Australia in Adelaide.
100 selling spaces are available to local food and wine producers at the BankSA Feast for the Senses presented by LifeStyle FOOD Channel, a two-day public celebration of food and wine during Tasting Australia 2010.
BankSA Feast for the Senses presented by LifeStyle FOOD Channel, brings together the finest food and wine producers along with stage entertainment and cookery demonstrations by some of the world’s top celebrity chefs.
View More >>
Last Chance fo Early Bird Prices
Just one week remains to register for the 2010 Tour Down Under‟s Mutual Community Challenge Tour, presented by The Advertiser, at discounted „early bird‟ prices.
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith today reminded cycling fans that the discounted prices for the event – part of the Škoda Breakaway Series – close at 5pm on Friday 31 July. Registrations at the regular price will continue until 8 January.
View More >>
2010 Tour Down Under Race Routes Unveiled
3rd July 2009
The 2010 Tour Down Under race routes have been unveiled today at the official launch of the UCI ProTour event.
Transport Minister Patrick Conlon announced that the route will return to the Clare Valley after a six year absence.
“Stage 1 of the 2010 Tour Down Under will set off from Clare, the first time the event has been to the town,” Minister Conlon says.
View More >>
Government Support for SA Tourism Development
30 June 2009
The Rann Government’s ongoing commitment to building a better South Australian tourism future has been underlined by $120,000 funding for three new tourism ventures.
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says this is part of the Rann Government’s $2 million annual assistance for tourism operators across the State.
View More >>
Colourful Kangaroos Invade London
25 June 2009
A mob of Kangaroo Island ‘roos are set to attract plenty of attention on London’s streets this week.
Twenty life-sized kangaroo ‘statues’ have appeared in landmark locations in London today, as part of an initiative to promote Kangaroo Island and South Australia.
View More >>
Adelaide to Host World Life Saving Championships
16th June 2009
The International Life Saving Federation today announced that Adelaide will host the World Life Saving Championships in 2012.
Minister for Recreation, Sport & Racing Michael Wright said the World Life Saving Championships, Rescue 2012, will be a major event for Adelaide that will provide a significant boost to the South Australian economy.
View More >>
Kangaroo Island Declared a ‘National Landscape’
15th June 2009
Kangaroo Island – widely regarded overseas as ‘Australia’s Galapagos’ – has been declared part of Tourism Australia’s prestigious National Landscapes program
The island is the only destination to have been recognised this year.
View More >>
|
