Tourism

South Australia is emerging as a leading international tourist destination, particularly in eco tourism experiences.

Home to leading international tourism events such as the Adelaide Festival of Arts, WOMADelaide international music festival, Fringe Festival, Clipsal 500 V8 Supercar Race, International Rugby Sevens Adelaide and the Tour Down Under international cycling race, South Australia has attracted growing foreign investment in tourism over the past 20 years.

South Australia is famous for its world-class wine, food, historical and cultural attractions and iconic nature experiences. These include swimming with sea lions, whale watching, exploring the World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves, cruising the unspoilt waterways of the Murray River and the Coorong, and visiting the pristine Kangaroo Island. 

Opportunities exist for investors to help promote South Australia as a tourist destination to new and growth markets, including China, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and the UK.

Output

• Tourism generated $1.8 billion Gross Value Added in 2003-04.¹
• $4.3 billion tourism expenditure in the year to June 2009. ¹
  

Exports

• 347,000 overseas visitors and 1.7 million interstate visitors in the year to June 2009.³
• Major sources of international visitors are the UK, Europe, USA and New Zealand.³

Employment

• 60,000 people employed in tourism related industries in the year to November 2009.³

Workforce Information Service

Number of businesses

• More than 7,920 businesses at the end of 2006-07 in tourism-related industries, such as accommodation, attraction, hospitality and transport services.⁴

Research and development

• South Australia’s tourism industry is supported in developing innovative tourism projects through government programs such as the Australian Tourism Development Program.

Geographic Focus

• South Australia’s most visited locations are Adelaide, Fleurieu Peninsula, Limestone Coast and Flinders Ranges/Outback.⁵

Case studies

Kangaroo Island SeaLink Pty Ltd
Hosting the World’s Tourism Industry
More International Flights for South Australia

Industry groups

Adelaide Convention Tourism Authority
Australian Federation of Travel Agents
Australian Hotels Association (SA Branch)
Australian Tourism Export Council
Caravan Parks Association of SA Inc
Ecotourism Australia
Houseboat Hirers’ Association Inc
International Air Transport Association
Restaurant & Catering SA
SA Bed & Breakfast Town & Country Association
South Australian Tourism Commission
South Australian Tourism Industry Council
Tourism Australia

1. South Australian Tourism Commission, Tourism and the Economy, www.tourism.sa.gov.au/publications

2. South Australian Tourism Commission, At A Glance, September 2009, www.tourism.sa.gov.au/publications

3. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Labour Force, Catalogue 6291.0.55.003, spreadsheet 5 and data cube E06_aug94, www.abs.gov.au

4. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits, Catalogue 8165.0, www.abs.gov.au

5. South Australian Tourism Commission, South Australia Regional Tourism Profile, 2007, www.tourism.sa.gov.au/publications

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