Tourism News

TAKE A DIRECT INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT AND SUPPORT SA TOURISM

Globetrotting locals can help South Australian tourism operators by using the airlines that support our State with direct international flights to Adelaide, says Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith.
“The State Government has worked hard to make South Australia more accessible to international tourists by attracting more flights to Adelaide,” Dr Lomax-Smith says.
“From this 2 June, 26 international flights a week will be touching down at Adelaide Airport – up from 14 at the beginning of 2003.
“But we need locals to use these flights when they travel abroad so they are viable for the airline operators, in turn making sure they continue to benefit our tourism industry into the future.
“Extra flights introduced this year will provide an additional 90,000 extra seats into Adelaide each year, but need to be well utilised both into and out of Adelaide.
“The State Government is working with the airlines to promote these flights in major international markets to bring more visitors to our State, but South Australian travellers can also benefit. “It is staggering to think that 57% of overseas travel out of South Australia is via interstate airports when people could often take a quicker and more direct flight from Adelaide.
“If you are going abroad, ask your travel agent about the direct flight options available from Adelaide
– it could prevent many hours languishing in interstate airport terminals.
“For example, South Australians can now fly direct to Auckland in New Zealand, rather than divert
through Sydney or Melbourne, saving up to eight hours in transit.
“That time is particularly important if you are flying from Auckland onto the United States. The Air
New Zealand flights connect so well the Adelaide to Los Angeles journey is less than 18 hours.
“Singapore Airlines has increased flights from four times a week to a daily service within the space of
six months. These daily services will especially appeal to the corporate and business travellers who
want the flexibility of travelling on any particular day of the week.
“Cathay Pacific is the latest to increase its flights, introducing two new return services to Hong Kong
from Friday, and Malaysia Airlines continues to support the State with its four times weekly service.
“Air New Zealand has added three new flights direct from Adelaide to Auckland and Qantas will
operate its three times weekly services to Singapore non-stop instead of via Darwin from July.
“In conjunction with the airlines, we are promoting flights into Adelaide in New Zealand, the United
States, Singapore, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Hong Kong, Japan, southern China and Taiwan.”

For more information call Jill Bottrall on 08 8463 3362




EVENTFUL ADELAIDE LIVES UP TO ITS NAME

The Rann Government’s $1.1 million Eventful Adelaide campaign to promote South Australian events throughout January to March proved a success, says Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith.
Dr Lomax-Smith told State Parliament today that attendances and ticket sales for a number of events reached record levels and city hotels were close to full.
Some of the achievements from events held earlier this year include:
o The Clipsal 500 Adelaide reported 270,300 people attended over four days – a 5.8% growth on attendance compared to last year.
o The Adelaide Fringe experienced a record year, with more than 200,000 tickets sold.
o Total attendance figures for WOMADelaide were 75,000 – up from the 65,000 recorded for the 2005 Festival.
o Adelaide Cup Day drew 32,119 people in 2006 compared to 18,000 people in 2005.
“Our campaign was effective in attracting visitors and turned what was anticipated to be a very busy period into a stellar season of events,” Dr Lomax-Smith says.
“Hotels recorded a 7% increase in occupancy in January and February and a huge 11% jump in March, with hotel occupancy for that month at 91%.
“The Eventful Adelaide campaign aimed to maximise attendance at both metropolitan and regional events at the start of the year when the State was alive with action.
“It was an incredibly exciting time for our State, offering a brilliant blend of events celebrating the arts, sports, motor sports and horse racing.
“This key event period gave South Australia an excellent opportunity to confirm its status as the Festival State of Australia.
“The campaign’s specific advertising elements included a 24-page brochure which was distributed all over Australia and in New Zealand. It also included television commercials throughout South Australia and the distribution of event calendars.
“Moving forward, the Australian Tourism Exchange, supported by $2m from the State Government, will showcase South Australia to travel wholesalers from around the globe in June.
“While winter has always been a traditionally quieter period, we have a number of conferences being held from May through to September, which are expected to draw more than 35,000 delegates.
“We have also secured the rights to the 2006 Asian Football Confederation Women’s Championships – a 16-day event to be held during July.”

For more information call Michele D’Aloia on 08 84695



LAUNCH OF THE WHALE WATCHING SEASON

The 2006 South Australian Whale Watching Season will be officially opened on Saturday 3 June at the South Australian Whale Centre, Victor Harbor.

The Southern Right Whales migrate each year between the cool waters of the Sub-Antarctic and the warmer waters of Southern Australia, Africa and America. The warm coastal waters of South Australia provide an ideal environment for the Southern Right Whale to mate and give birth.

With 2005 providing excellent whale watching across the state, the South Australian Whale Centre is preparing for another busy season.

2005 was a great year for whale watching, with the largest number of sightings ever recorded throughout South Australia.

Whales have already been sighted off the Fleurieu Peninsula, there have been reports of sightings in Western Victoria and there are reports of four whales already at Head of Bight, on Eyre Peninsula.

If you want to keep up to date on the latest sighting information contact the SA Whale Information Hotline on 1900 931 223, this service is updated as soon as new information is confirmed and twice daily in the peak of the whale season.

For more information call Brad Riddle on 0401 711 662 or 08 8552 5644



SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WINE EXPORTS LIFT SPIRITS

Premier Mike Rann, who has been in London promoting South Australia’s wines at the London International Wine and Spirits Fair, says South Australia now dominates Australian wine exports to the UK with a 72 per cent share.
“The good news for South Australian wines is that our exports grew by 12.5 per cent in the last financial year and we now export nearly 400 million litres – or $1.6 billion of wine - annually.
Mr Rann says that to further strengthen the wine export industry, he will launch an agreement between companies and unions protecting exports of wine from SA from industrial action.
“This has the backing of major wine companies including Fosters, Hardys, Orlando, and Flinders ports and a range of transport and packaging companies. It is also backed by the Transport and Maritime Workers Unions.
“This has never been done before – a strike free advantage for our wine exports.
“Our aim is to make the supply of wines from our State to export markets, entirely reliable and secure.
“This will further reinforce our State’s advantage of low industrial disputation rates that are one tenth those of WA, one third those of Qld and NSW, less than one fifth Victoria's, and nearly one-fifth of Australia's.
“The other advantage that places us well ahead of other wine growing regions is that our wine makers are producing a high quantity premium quality product, grown in a clean and green environment.
“The London International Wine and Spirits Fair is seen as the most important event in the global wine and spirits calendar for 2006.
“According to organisers, it has more than 1,300 exhibitors here from 35 countries.
“Importantly, about 25,000 wine industry people come to this London fair from all over the world for three days to buy, taste and conduct business.
“South Australian wineries represented here include Bethany Wines, Haselgrove, Penfolds, Wolf Blass, Lindemans, Wynns Coonawarra, Seppelts, Saltram and Annie’s Lane, among many others.
“Our wine industry is held in very high regard all over Europe and North America especially, and that is why so many South Australian wineries are here in London to do business.
“In the last financial year, South Australia exported in excess of $687 million worth of wine to the UK – a 14 per cent increase for the year before.
“Australian exports to the US have soared in recent years. We now supply 25 per cent of the US wine imports – ahead of France at 16 per cent.
“The potential new growth markets now being explored include Canada, New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden, China, Belgium, Singapore and Japan,” said Mr Rann.

For more information call Jill Bottrall on 08 8463 3362





EVENTS SOUTH AUSTRALIA: JUST BRILLIANT!

The major events arm of the South Australian Tourism Commission, Australian Major Events has undergone an image change with the introduction of Events South Australia.

Events South Australia replaces the name Australian Major Events and will also incorporate South Australia. A brilliant blend in its advertising, promotion and marketing.

Australian Major Events (AME) is a division of the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) and was established in 1994 to attract, develop, manage and market major national and international events in SA. The new name and logo is in line with the SATC’s consumer brand.

While it is a new era for its corporate name and consumer brand identity, Events South Australia will remain focused on managing, sponsoring and hosting world-class events for the State.

Events South Australia has an impressive record and a well-deserved reputation for quality and achievement in staging cultural, sporting and international events. These events generate substantial economic impact, television broadcast opportunities and social benefits for the State and this is set to continue.

Hosting major events provides an ideal opportunity to promote the image and profile of Adelaide and South Australia as a quality tourism destination.

Events South Australia currently owns and manages the Tour Down Under, The Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive, Tasting Australia, Panasonic World Solar Challenge and the Credit Union Christmas Pageant as well as sponsoring many other major events in Adelaide.

Visit www.events.southaustralia.com for further details.

For more information please call Michele D’Aloia on 08 8463 4695.

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