WHILE there will still be plenty of small regional tourism businesses struggling to recover from COVID-19 lockdowns and the drop off in interstate and international travel, the latest figures from the SA Tourism Commission provide plenty to be positive about.
Figures for December 2020 indicate accommodation occupancy in regional SA climbed to 60 per cent - which is the highest December occupancy on record.
It's great to see South Australians getting out and about throughout the state, supporting businesses in their own backyard.
This doesn't just benefit regional accommodation providers, tourism operators and local communities - it also has huge benefits for the travellers themselves, who come away with a much better appreciation of the incredible place we get to call home.
Before the pandemic changed our world last year, many people would have ignored local attractions and instead elected to explore foreign shores or head interstate.
But in the blink of an eye, it wasn't possible to leave our island nation. Heading to the west wasn't an option either, thanks to WA's iron-clad border closure, and travel to the east coast became highly unpredictable as outbreaks cropped up in Vic, NSW and Qld. The NT seemed to offer the only welcoming embrace, but even it shut its border with SA at a moment's notice in November.
Let's hope that from now on, even when the pandemic is resigned to the rear view mirror, more South Australians put local destinations at the top of their priority list when planning a holiday.
Related reading: Tourism operators report booking bonanza
If the popularity of the Great State voucher program is anything to go by, this is already happening.
The second round of vouchers were all snapped up in well under an hour, and I know plenty of people who missed out but are already eagerly awaiting a potential third round.
Sure, the program isn't perfect - the website reportedly crashed, and not all vouchers handed out have translated into actual bookings - but the buzz it has created is invaluable.
It's got so many people thinking and talking about where they want to go.
While I hope those who missed out on the second round have better luck next time, I also hope plenty of them decide to holiday in our regional areas - voucher or no voucher.
- Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Sign up here to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.
Jacinta Rose
Editor of the Stock Journal - South Australia's agricultural masthead
Editor of the Stock Journal - South Australia's agricultural masthead
