Top tourism chief throws in the towel.

The head of South Australia Tourism Commission Bill Spurr has confirmed that he will retire next year to spend more time with his family.

Phil Hoffman, Chair of the Commission told the Mole in an exclusive interview during ATE 2006 earlier in the year in Adelaide, “The really good thing is we have great CEO and terrific staff who do a great job.”  “Everyone knows Bill Spurr both in Australia and internationally, but the sad part is that he is retiring next year and not renewing his contract, which will be very difficult for us.”  He added, I have worked with Bill for over 20 yrs and it been a really great pleasure to have done so.”

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Without doubt, one of Australia’s most effective, well liked and respected tourism leaders, Bill Spurr’s departure will leave SATC with the very significant challenge of finding an effective replacement who will engender the same cross industry support.

Bill Spurr is the Chairman of the World Police and Fire Games, being held in Adelaide next March and Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says, “I expect a smooth transition when Mr Spurr hands over the position to a new head in July 2007 after the Games”, adding “The advertisements and the search will begin for a replacement for Bill Spurr, who’s something of an icon in tourism in South Australia.”  “He’s very popular, well-known and has really done a brilliant job in bringing the tourism industry to where it is now.”

Bill Spurr’s departure comes at a time when the SA Government has slashed its tourism budget in South Australia and a consultants review of which Bill Spurr was known to be critical, with The Mole at the time of the appointment of the consultants reporting, that Greg Smith, the man responsible for shutting down Australian Capital Territory Tourism and slashing the ACT tourism budget as part of a review of Government departments in the ACT, had been appointed by Premier Rann and the South Australian Government to undertake what is believed is a similar, all of Government review, with the role, budget and location in Government of the SATC understood to be included in that review and Mr Smith’s review in ACT also resulting in the “termination” of the CEO and nine senior staff.

The Mole also reported at the time that Consultants’ initial meeting with Bill Spurr was less than cordial.

Good luck Bill in your well deserved retirement from The Mole – you will be greatly missed.