A $23 million plan to guarantee South Australia a year-round calendar of major events will be announced by the State Government today.
Premier Mike Rann and Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith will outline details of the plan to attract more sporting and cultural events.
Mr Rann said more events would draw more tourists to the state. “In addition to New Zealand, we will continue to target the United Kingdom, our number one source market for international visitors, and the emerging and enormous Indian market,” he said.
“This budget boost will help to make us even more competitive as a destination for holidays and events, helping to fill our hotels, restaurants and shops and create jobs for South Australians,” Dr Lomax-Smith said.
The most recent tourism figures show a 6 per cent increase in international visitors to South Australia to June, compared to the previous year.
“South Australia’s performance outstripped the national average of a 1 per cent increase and comes on the back of Adelaide hotels recording their highest ever occupancy levels at the start of the year,” Dr Lomax-Smith said.
