Tourism News

NEW ZEALAND TO CYCLE IN TOUR DOWN UNDER

The push for more New Zealanders to holiday in South Australia has received a major boost, with the New Zealand national cycling team to take part in the Tour Down Under for the first time in 2007.

Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says New Zealanders will be able to follow the progress of their team as they cycle through some of South Australia’s most spectacular locations.

“This gives us an opportunity to showcase the best of South Australia to people who travel from New Zealand to watch the event as well as those who watch from their lounge-rooms.

“We have been working hard to attract more tourists from New Zealand, with the introduction of non-stop flights from Auckland to Adelaide and strong marketing campaigns with the airlines.

“We are increasing the State’s share of Australia’s number one source market of international visitors by offering New Zealanders an easily accessible new holiday experience.

“As a result of our efforts, there has been an 82% increase in New Zealand holiday arrivals in South Australia when comparing the January to July figures in 2004 and 2006 (Australian Bureau of Statistics).

“South Australia received more than 30,000 visitors from New Zealand during the 12 months ended June 2006, according to International Visitor Survey figures.

“We expect the participation of the New Zealand national cycling team in the Tour Down Under will help to further increase awareness and interest in South Australia.

“The New Zealand team will present a strong line up of Pro Tour and quality Pro Continental riders.”

The Tour Down Under is regarded as Australia’s premier international cycling event and Minister Lomax-Smith says the government is continually looking at ways to open up access in key tourism markets.

“The Tour Down Under is more than just a cycling race – it is a chance for us to show off SA to the world through media editorial coverage and more than 60 hours of international television coverage.

“The Tour’s growing profile has resulted in 15,330 event specific international and national visitors attending the 2006 event, generating an economic benefit to the State of at least $16.25m.”

The 2007 Tour Down Under will be held from Tuesday 16 January until Sunday 21 January 2007.

For more information visit www.tourdownunder.com.au


O’GRADY TO COMPETE IN TOUR DOWN UNDER

South Australia’s own cycling champion Stuart O’Grady is coming home to take part in the 2007 Tour Down Under.

Stuart will lead the world-class CSC team, currently ranked number one in the world and the first confirmed team for next year’s Tour Down Under.

Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says confirmation that Stuart O’Grady and team CSC will compete in the race is a major coup for the event.

“We are thrilled that the winner of the inaugural Tour Down Under will be returning to the event with an all-star team,” Dr Lomax-Smith says.

“I expect Stuart will have a home-town win on his mind as he sets out to defend his 1999 and 2001 Tour Down Under victories.”
Team CSC now has a strong Australian influence, with fellow South Australian and Olympic gold medallist Luke Roberts, and former southaustralia.com-AIS team young gun Matthew Goss, joining O’Grady as part of the team’s Australian contingent.

O’Grady returns to South Australia in 2007, fresh from his role as an ambassador for the State overseas.

“Stuart is a fantastic ambassador for the State and his cycling achievements are nothing short of outstanding.”

Team CSC will appear in the Tour Down Under with Team Manager, Scott Sunderland, former professional cyclist, and Australian cyclist of the year.

Team owner Bjarne Riis, whose illustrious career included winning the 1996 Tour de France, is making the trip to South Australia with the team as a VIP guest of the Tour Down Under.

“Next year’s Tour will be a strong field and I predict we’ll see some of the most exciting racing in the Tour’s history as we continue to confirm teams and riders over the coming weeks,” Dr Lomax-Smith says.

The ever-increasing profile of the Tour Down Under has resulted in the 2006 event generating 15,330 event specific international and national visitors, an economic benefit to the State of at least $16.25m.

It generated more than 60 hours of international broadcast television in key tourism markets. The 2007 Tour Down Under will be held from Tuesday 16 January until Sunday 21 January 2007.

It is an internationally accredited race, endorsed by the world cycling federation, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and is owned and managed by the South Australian Government, through the SA Tourism Commission.

Further teams and riders competing in the Tour will be confirmed as they become available.

For more information please call Michele D’Aloia on 08 8463 4695.



REGIONAL EVENTS FUNDING

South Australian regional events and projects will share in more than $640,000 funding from the State Government.

The Leafy Sea Dragon Festival, Music on the Murray and the Marree Camel Cup are among 111 events set to receive grants through Events South Australia’s Regional Events and Festivals Program and Community Events Development Fund 2006-07.

Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says events are proven tourism drawcards, and the Regional Events and Festivals Program is an important way to attract extra visitors to South Australia’s regions.

“South Australia is really living up to its reputation as the Festival State, with our brilliant line-up of regional events growing in stature and number every year.

“As well as our stellar calendar of major events in Adelaide, visitors will find festivals and celebrations throughout regional South Australia almost every weekend of the year.

“This funding program is designed to support events that attract tourists to South Australia and lift the profile of the state’s regions.

“Funds are designed to assist event organisers in promotion and marketing, to capitalise on the economic benefits delivered by their event.

“Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival, the 2007 Regional Masters Games, Riverland Renaissance and the Fleurieu Peninsula Biennale have also received funding this financial year.

“Tourism brings vital new money into local and regional communities and is one of the most important industries for generating employment and investment in our regional areas.”

All events financially supported through the Regional Events and Festivals Program are also offered in-kind support from the South Australian Tourism Commission, including promotion on southaustralia.com, and inclusion of the event in a range of publications with national and international readerships.

For more information call Julia Angove on 08 8463 4610.



SA WINS TWO INTERNATIONAL BMX EVENTS

South Australia has further cemented its reputation as the cycling capital of Australia, winning the right to host two major international BMX events.

The State will host the UCI BMX World Championships in July 2009 and the UCI BMX Supercross in April 2008. Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says the events will help to boost the State’s major events calendar.

“We are aiming to build South Australia as a world force in cycling, allowing us to capitalise on the growing ‘cycle tourism’ market that high-profile events generate,” Minister Lomax-Smith says.

“These major event wins follow our State Budget announcement of $2m to increase the number of teams participating in the highly successful Tour Down Under and attract new events.

“We estimate more than 6000 visitors, including competitors from interstate and overseas, will come to South Australia for the BMX World Championships.

“Up to $12 million will be pumped into the State’s economy and the extra visitors will help to fill our hotels, shops and restaurants in the middle of winter, a quieter time for tourism in South Australia.

“The BMX Supercross would be held immediately before the National BMX Championships, attracting more than 3000 visitors from interstate to Adelaide for a week-long BMX festival.

“BMX is set to grow in significance when it features as an Olympic sport for the first time ever at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

“The Supercross could be the final world event to qualify for the 2008 Olympics and the 2009 World Championships will follow on from the Olympics debut.

“These events will add more world cycling disciplines to South Australia’s already successful line-up of cycling events. We have the Tour Down Under, have hosted three of the last four national BMX championships and boast our own professional cycling team – southaustralia.com – AIS.

“We are continually looking for ways to associate South Australia with cycling to build on our already well established reputation in competitive and recreational cycling.

“The Tour Down Under – now the highest graded race outside Europe – has put South Australia on the map around the world, particularly in Europe.

“Australia is currently ranked third in the world in BMX. BMX Australia has a racing membership of more than 8000, making it the second largest in the world.”

Graham Arnold, president of BMX Australia, the host organisation, says: We have had a strong and successful relationship with Events South Australia for many years through the hosting of the national championships and we look forward to continuing this with the coming international events.”

For more information please call Michele D’Aloia on 08 8463 4695.



BOOST FOR SA TOURISM

A range of projects aimed at strengthening tourism in South Australia will benefit from more than $600,000 in State Government funding.

Twenty-three projects around the state, worth nearly $6 million, will receive grants through the South Australian Tourism Commission’s Tourism Development Fund.

Some of the projects to receive funding in 2006-07 include:

an upgrade of the Mount Benson Wine and Tourism Centre;
an upgrade of Willunga Square to house the Willunga Farmers’ Market;
construction of Kankana Ecolodge at Gum Creek Station in the Flinders Ranges;
an upgrade of the Penneshaw Penguin Centre;
development of signs along canoe trails in the Riverland;
expansion of Port Wakefield Caravan Park to cater for additional demand.

Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says these developments will help to enhance South Australia’s reputation as a holiday destination, generating additional interstate and overseas visitation, as well as encouraging South Australians to explore the State’s unique attractions.

“Tourism development is especially important for the economies of regional areas, where attracting spending by extra visitors can mean more job opportunities and local prosperity,” Minister Lomax-Smith says.

“Minor infrastructure projects such as information and interpretive signage, walking trails, and lookouts are essential to increase the comfort of a visitor’s experience and encourages them to stay longer while they are here.”

Many of the grants will be matched dollar for dollar by local councils or part-funded by private sector investment, highlighting the importance of partnerships in developing and maintaining vital tourism infrastructure.

Applications for the 2007-08 Tourism Development Fund will be sought early next year and Minister Lomax-Smith invites councils, tourism associations and operators to submit suitable infrastructure projects for consideration.

“These grants have the potential to kick start tourism in a particular area or take tourism to a new level, creating jobs and economic prosperity,” she says.

For more information call Julia Angove on 08 8463 4610.



SA WINS 2010 SPECIAL OLYMPICS NATIONAL GAMES

South Australia has won the right to hold the IX Special Olympics National Games in Adelaide in December 2010.

The announcement was made at the closing ceremony of the VIII Special Olympics National Games on Queensland’s Gold Coast last month.

Premier Mike Rann said the major event bid win was another coup for South Australia.

“This is another brilliant addition to the State’s major event calendar,” Mr Rann said.

“The event will bring more than 1000 athletes from around Australia to Adelaide, as well as 100 athletes and support staff from invitational Asia Pacific countries and an additional 2000 family and friends.

“Organisers say the event is likely to generate an economic impact of more than $3 million over the eight days of competition during the second week in December 2010.

The bid was coordinated by Special Olympics South Australia (SOSA) and Events South Australia – the major events division of the South Australian Government.

State Coordinator of Special Olympics Jen Thomas said winning the bid was a major achievement for South Australia.

“It is an enormous privilege to hold the IX Special Olympics National Games in Adelaide. It will be an absolute thrill to host the games in our hometown and show the nation how far SOSA has come," Ms Thomas said.

"The event will provide various benefits to SA, including the economic benefit from the influx of several thousand athletes, support staff and spectators.

“However the best part of winning the bid is that the 2010 games will raise awareness of the positive achievements of people with intellectual disabilities.

“Every athlete has a story to tell and the games will help them to express those stories. Whether or not they succeed at the games is not as important as the hurdles they have overcome to get there in the first place – it’s all about celebrating their achievements,” she said.

The games will use the best of Adelaide’s sporting facilities such as Santos Stadium and Adelaide Shores at West Beach.
The announcement wound up a successful week for the SA team, which won in excess of 50 medals at the VIII Special Olympics National Games on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

Special Olympics has been operating in South Australia for 15 years, providing year-round sports training and competition for adults and children with an intellectual disability.

For more information please call Michele D’Aloia on 08 8463 4695.

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