Two tourism workshops were held for the Limestone Coast last week, in Naracoorte and Robe to outline the potential to grow regional visitor expenditure in SA’s 11 tourism regions, to the target of $4b by 2025.
While in the region, the SA Tourism Commission (SATC) also visited industry in Mount Gambier, where workshops went through the priorities identified in an industry-wide survey, which had more than 650 responses.
According to the SATC, tourism representatives in the Limestone Coast identified collaboration, experience supply and development, and product marketing as key areas for focus in the South Australian Regional Visitor Strategy.
They also discussed the opportunities of collaboration within the Limestone Coast, including between wine and coastal tourism, as well as opportunities for cross-border cooperation when it is safe for restrictions with Victoria to ease.
“It’s been a busy few weeks out in region, with 15 workshops held across the state to develop the 2025 South Australian Regional Visitor Strategy,” SATC chief executive Rodney Harrex told The SE Voice.
“Regional tourism representatives have been really engaged in the process and we’ve been having very productive and robust discussions about the priorities over the next five years.
“As we plan the path ahead together, it’s been pleasing that one of the key strategic priorities across all regions for growing the visitor economy – investment in improved accommodation, product and experiences – is already underway.”
Furthermore, operators and industry leaders in the Limestone Coast were positive about the approaching school holiday period, the SATC said.
Operators are also pleased with the “uptick” in intrastate tourism to the Limestone Coast, including Robe, which has recorded a surge in intrastate travel during its typically quieter winter period.
According to the SATC, the findings from the 15 workshops held across SA will inform the draft SA Regional Visitor Strategy, which aims to grow the state’s visitor expenditure to $4b by 2025.
There will be another opportunity for feedback from Limestone Coast tourism when the draft of the Regional Visitor Strategy is “shared with the regional tourism organisation, to ensure we’ve captured the needs and nuances of the region”, the SATC said.
It follows the launch of the state government’s $20m Tourism Industry Development Fund, designed to support and stimulate private sector investment in new and improved regional accommodation and the development of “quality tourism product and experiences”.
According to feedback received by SATC, Limestone Coast tourism operators are “very excited” by the opportunities presented by the fund, with a number of applications from the region expected.
