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Tourism operators and stakeholders in the Limestone Coast had a rare opportunity at the end of May as they met face to face with executives from the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) including new CEO Emma Terry, who was on her first official visit to the region. More than 100 tourism industry powerbrokers attended events in Robe and Mount Gambier.<\/p>\n
City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin OAM, who is also Limestone Coast Local Government Association chair, said it was good for the new CEO (pictured right – photo courtesy of Go Fish Social) to see firsthand the amazing attractions and experienced this region has to offer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important to forge a relationship with the SATC so together we can increase visitation to our region,\u201d Mayor Martin said. And Mayor Martin couldn\u2019t wait to showcase the region\u2019s newest asset \u2013 Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a great opportunity to show her Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre and highlighting the opportunity that facility provides to attract conferences, exhibitions and sporting events not only in Mount Gambier but to our State.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Tourism SA visit also doubled as a chance for local tourism stakeholders to meet with the new Limestone Coast Local Government Association Destination development representatives \u2013 Destination Development manager Kate Napper and her colleague Emma Herring.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have inherited a detailed Limestone Coast Destination Management Plan to 2025 that was endorsed by the Limestone Coast councils in 2020 and supported by a doubling of their investment in tourism for the past three years,\u201d Ms Napper said. \u201cThis plan aligns with SATC\u2019s regional visitor strategy with focus areas across marketing and events, experience development and industry capability building.<\/p>\n
\u201cFostering industry connectivity is also an important role that we play and events like these tourism networking sessions are a great way to ignite potential for stronger collaboration and information sharing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the opportunity to be a stronger force for tourism when we all work together.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Tourism SA visit also had a cross border flavour, including recently appointed SA Cross Border Commissioner Liz McKinnon (pictured inset with Glenelg Shire Council\u2019s Karen Stephens), as representatives from South West Victoria also had a chance to network with Limestone Coast tourism operators and the SATC executive team.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great to see the SATC connecting with our key cross border tourism leaders in the region to understand first-hand the unique opportunities in the Green Triangle region,\u201d Ms McKinnon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are many passionate and hardworking operators who have shown an appetite to collaborate, better promoting our tourism routes to strengthen our visitor economy by building united tourism routes that promote our majestic nature based attractions, world class food and wine offerings and world heritage listed attractions.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Cross Border Commissioner role is focused on identifying issues, brokering solutions and providing advice to government on matters that impact our cross border communities and sharing tourism opportunities certainly falls into that category.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese communities are illustrating there is opportunity to strengthen touring route promotion cross border, such as the Limestone Coast better linking to the Great Ocean Road and Grampians regions. The Adelaide to Melbourne Touring Map has historically been a great tool in connecting visitors to our cross border communities,\u201d Ms McKinnon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy work has shown there is a growing willingness from tourism operators to continue to partner with cross border counterparts to grow this visitor experience, because as we know – tourists don\u2019t distinguish state borders. \u201cI\u2019m also keen to explore the interaction of public transport system and its role in our cross border visitor economies.\u201d<\/p>\n
And the Cross Border Commissioner certainly thinks now is the time to start rolling up our sleeves and tapping into the region\u2019s visitation potential and the economic spin-offs that visitation provides for the wider community. \u201cThe Green Triangle has a growing opportunity to benefit from the cruise ship market which is recovering from the pandemic slow down,\u201d she said. \u201cPortland has historically attracted an average of six cruise ships annually, providing a unique cross border marketing opportunity to promote our world class attractions to a global audience.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis part of the world has an exclusive proposition given it has two world-heritage listed attractions, the Naracoorte Caves and Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, near Heywood, providing a gateway to promote the region\u2019s rich and unique cultural heritage values.<\/p>\n
\u201cI intend to explore how our state\u2019s key tourism bodies can strengthen existing partnerships to meet this growing regional push to cross pollinate.\u201d<\/p>\n
SA Tourism came to the Limestone Coast visit armed with the latest statistics, with Tourism Research Australia data released as part of the latest Regional Visitor Strategy progress snapshot January to December last year, to help put some context around the discussion.<\/p>\n
This update shows the Limestone Coast has achieved 92% of its 2025 visitor expenditure target with $441million in expenditure recorded for that period. Total number of day trip visitors has increased by 31% to 827,000 while number of overnight visits has also increased to 622,000.<\/p>\n
Limestone Coast accommodation occupancy continues to outperform preCOVID levels with 1.9million visitor nights generated during 2022, up from 1.8million in 2021. A record 84% occupancy set in January 2023 with 31,000 room nights occupied at a total revenue of $5.9m.<\/p>\n
Tourism employment has jumped up with 3900 people directly and indirectly employed in tourism sector during the 2022 calendar year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SATC visit shines a light on the Limestone Coast Tourism operators and stakeholders in the Limestone Coast had a rare opportunity at the end of May as they met face to face with executives from the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) including new CEO Emma Terry, who was on her first official visit to […]<\/p>\n