Tourism numbers have increased on last years figures with intrastate focused regions attracting more tourists.
SA Tourism Commission chief executive Rodney Harrex said SA was continuing to embrace local holidays, with the latest data showing intrastate tourism is still hitting record-highs and total visitor expenditure in SA was recovering faster than forecasted.
Places like Maree and Innamincka are impacted as they are along a journey into another state.
- JEREMY CARN
"I have been out in the region talking with operators, from Coffin Bay and Kimba in the Eyre Peninsula to Renmark and Berri in the Riverland, and they're reporting strong numbers of SA taking a regional getaway," he said.
"In fact, the Clare Valley has already smashed its 2025 target, recording $134 million in visitor expenditure in the 12 months to March 2021 - $2m more than what it set out to achieve in four years' time.
"While there are pockets of the industry this local boom doesn't extend to - such as those which rely more heavily on interstate and international tourists - we are doing everything we can to drive people and dollars into SA tourism businesses."
Mr Harrex said nearly 60,000 bookings were generated by the Great State Vouchers for tours, experiences and accommodation across SA and it was a huge investment in regional tourism.
Mr Harrex said thanks to the Tourism Industry Development Fund, supporting more regional events with Regional Event Fund, and marketing to leverage the surge in road trip travel - we are maximising intrastate tourism and driving economic recovery faster than forecasted.
Regional Development Australia Far North's economic development manager Jeremy Carn said the Flinders Ranges region has had great tourism figures but pockets of the Flinders Ranges are suffering from lack of interstate travel.
"Tourists won't travel to places such as Coober Pedy only to turn around again, it's more of a through fare destination," he said,
"Places like Maree and Innamincka are impacted as they are along a journey into another state."
To fill the void of COVID impacts on tourism in the South East, the state government have announced a new tourism stimulus package for summer holidays in the Limestone Coast.
Discounts of $100 will be available when booking packages valued at more than $300 with partnering local travel agents, Phil Hoffmann Travel and Holidays of Australia.
Flinders Ranges Tourism Operators Association chairperson Michelle Reynolds said the regional tourism which is happening is brilliant and the region is going through mass tourism.
"People are seeing a lot more of their home state which is fantastic, people are willing to travel and I think people are quite surprised with what is actually out there," she said.
"I am very confident, especially if we have another mild summer, Flinders and outback will be booming.
"Operators have already got a lot of interest from NSW and Vic who keep cancelling and rebooking on a couple month cycle waiting to get into SA.
Ms Reynolds said education was important, trying to explain to people how much is actually out there and how much is available.
"A lot of people have this thought that you have got to have a four-wheel drive to go there and that's not always the case," she said.
"There are so many regional opportunities opening up but of course educating tourists about the Aussie Travel Code is vital.
"The Aussie Travel Code involves, staying on track, picking up your litter, camping in designated areas, bringing your own firewood, using public toilets and so much more, so educating people on it is really important for future preservation."
Ms Reynolds said the biggest challenge from an operators perspective is tourists booking ahead. "We do not have the staff to cater for unexpected arrivals," she said. "Staffing is challenging at the moment."
Operators attract new visitors in the Flinders
ALMERTA Station in the Flinders Ranges have had an "awesome year" with tourism, according to owner-operator Shane Rowe.
"People have actually got out in the Flinders Ranges who have never been before and they are looking for something new," she said.
"Surprisingly a lot of our visitors this year are not return visitors, they are new visitors."
Ms Rowe said more awareness was probably the key to encouraging tourism.
"People actually knowing what operators do and how simple and easy it is to book a long weekend, go camping, go back to their grass roots and do generational camping," she said.
"And then sharing those stories to make people feel comfortable to do something different as a lot of people do not give themselves those types of opportunities."
Ms Rowe appreciates tourism in SA has given another market for many businesses to open up and diversify their operations.
"A lot of the tourism businesses have other business enterprises as well, for example, we are a tourism business but we also have a grazing property where we have sheep," she said.
"The two businesses support each other and on an economic value tourism is important for SA.
"At Almerta Station we have found camping visitors have gone up, and group and family bookings have gone up in the accommodation side of the business.
"It is good to see even the off-road people are stopping, they are not in a rush anymore.
"The other thing is you do not need to spend lots of money to go and have a good time and that is what the Flinders is all about."
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