A forecast $54.7 million will be pumped into South Australia's visitor economy from next month, with two more rounds of the Great State Voucher scheme announced today.
Rounds seven and eight will see 160,000 vouchers up for grabs across accommodation, tours and experiences - equating to more than half of the total number of vouchers issued in the scheme to date.
The $9.7 million investment is part of a larger State Government financial support and stimulus package announced today, in response to Omicron. The package includes additional cash grants and payroll tax deferral for tourism and hospitality, an extension of the Major Events Grant, and targeted support for CBD businesses including dining out vouchers, activations, and free public transport during the festival period.
Premier Steven Marshall announced that Great State Voucher round seven will see vouchers of up to $100 for use on accommodation hit the market in February, and up to $200 for hosted tours and experiences in round eight from early March. The travel period for round seven will commence on 16 February, in an effort to boost tourism in the CBD in time for the opening of the Adelaide Fringe.
Analysis of the past six rounds of the South Australian Tourism Commission's Great State Voucher scheme show more than $94 million was injected into the state's economy and the program has strong industry support. The projected economic impact of the next two rounds could see the overall value land at around $149 million.
Premier Steven Marshall said since its inception in September 2020, the Great State Voucher scheme has proven it is an effective tourism stimulus which generates demand for businesses and keeps people in jobs.
"The largest number of Great State Vouchers, available for local and interstate travellers, is part of our plan to provide support and demand stimulus to the state's tourism industry," Premier Marshall said.
"The first CBD in the country to ease work-from-home arrangements post-Omicron and one of the best track records of any state for regional tourism in 2021, this is about helping businesses to not only keep the doors open but put on extra staff and create a spending flow-on across cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs and retail.
"A comparatively small investment to generate over $54 million for the state and support South Australian jobs."
South Australian Tourism Commission chief executive Rodney Harrex said with more vouchers available in the next two rounds than any before - launching in time to capitalise on Adelaide's festival season - the stimulus comes at a critical time.
"I'm constantly talking and meeting with industry and there's no doubt it's been an incredibly tough couple of months - but it's clear they want stimulus like the Great State Vouchers to get people seeing our state again," Mr Harrex said.
"Not only do the vouchers generate tens of thousands of bookings across accommodation, tours and experiences, consumer surveys show it creates expenditure well over the value of the voucher booking. Data shows it creates an average expenditure of $561 when booking a stay in the CBD, $602 for a regional stay, and $462 when booking a tour or experience with a $100 experience voucher.
"With travel commencing for round seven in time for the opening of the Adelaide Fringe, there has never been more reasons to get behind our state's world-class industry and enjoy an SA getaway."
The travel period for Great State Voucher round seven will start on 16 February 2022 and run through to the end of May, inclusive of Easter and the April school holidays. Vouchers of $100 will be available for use on accommodation in Adelaide CBD and North Adelaide (postcodes 5000 and 5006); and $50 for accommodation in suburban Adelaide and regional South Australia.
Vouchers of $100 and $200 will be available for hosted tours and experiences across South Australia from early March 2022.
