South Australia abandons International Horse Trials and Opposition fears tourism cuts impact

The South Australian Tourism Alliance has said that the State Government is once again failing the State’s tourism industry by abandoning the Adelaide International Horse Trails.

The equestrian event, which is the only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere, and considered to be an important part of preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has received nearly $1 million from the Government over the past three years, but will not get any more support after this year.

South Australian Tourism Alliance Chairman Les Penley says the Government needs to support events like the horse trials because they bring significant economic benefits, adding, “I couldn’t give you dollars and cents on it but it does bring a substantial number of people into the city, which fills hotel rooms and all the attendant spending with that, so if it doesn’t proceed then that’s another gap in hotel rooms and tourism spending”.

Mr Penley says doubt over the event’s future is a sad indictment on the South Australian Government, saying, “When they’re cutting back on funding for tourism promotion in general then something’s got to suffer and it looks like it’s going to be the horse trials, if the private operators aren’t able to proceed.”

He added, “There’s no guarantee that this one will go interstate, but if it did, well then that goes up on the chalkboard along with the Grand Prix.”

The tourism industry in South Australia has been dealt multiple blows in recent months and weeks, with the consultants review of the South Australian Tourism Commission taking place, the slashing of marketing budgets, the retirement of extremely popular and effective South Australia Tourism Commission CEO, Bill Spurr and now the potential loss of one of the State’s last remaining iconic events after losing the Grand Prix to Melbourne some years ago.

At the same time, the South Australian Opposition’s tourism spokesman says cuts to the tourism budget could be disastrous for the state, with Duncan McFetridge has telling a budget estimates hearing that a consultant hired by the Government, Greg Smith, recommended the Government make $1.4 billion worth of cuts.

Mr McFetridge says Mr Smith’s recommendations for tourism in the ACT, as reported recently in TravelMole are a disaster and says he hopes the same approach is not taken in South Australia.

Report by The Mole