Tourism News

GIANT PANDAS TO CALL SOUTH AUSTRALIA HOME

In exciting news for tourism in SA, agreement has been reached for a pair of young Giant Pandas to be loaned to our State for 10 years as part of a cooperative conservation agreement between the China Wildlife Conservation Association and Adelaide Zoo.

This will be the first time Giant Pandas will have been exhibited in Australia since 1988.

Adelaide Zoo is an organisation with a reputation for strong conservation programs.

CEO of The Royal Zoological Society of South Australia (RZSSA), Dr Chris West, said he was delighted that a pair of pandas would soon call Australia home as their presence in Australia would act as a symbol for international collaboration as we work together to secure a future for wildlife.

Adelaide Zoo has a long and successful history of managing a wide range of carnivores, including Red Pandas, and has the technical capabilities and strong scientific links with South Australian Universities that will help play a large part in delivering conservation success in China.

The two Giant pandas coming to Adelaide Zoo are a genetically important pairing. It is hoped that male “Wang Wang” which translates to “Net” (born 31/08/05) and female “Funi” which means “Lucky Girl” (born 23/08/06) will breed successfully at Adelaide Zoo when they reach sexual maturity.

The team at the RZSSA which manages Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Zoo will build new facilities including a panda habitat, new entrance and a perimeter fence to be completed in 2009.

Adelaide Zoo has an extensive 14 hectare browse plantation, 20 minutes drive from Adelaide Zoo, that will be used to grow up to five species of bamboo.

There are approximately 250 Giant pandas in captivity, with a only a handful in international zoos such as Atlanta Zoo (U.S.), San Diego Zoo (U.S.), Tokyo Zoo (Japan), Vienna Zoo (Austria), Chiang Mai (Thailand) and soon Adelaide Zoo (Australia).

For more information please call Andrew Brown on 0413 123 231.


 

GOOD NEWS FOR TOURISM IN SA DROUGHT REGIONS

ThTourism in South Australia has received a boost with five tourism projects receiving funding of $500,000 from the Australian Government through the Australian Tourism Development Program.

Tourism Minister Fran Bailey said the Australian Government recognised the devastating impact the drought had on regional Australia.

"The worst drought on record has caused enormous hardship right across our nation. Through this initiative, the Australian Government is helping local communities boost tourism and create jobs," Fran Bailey said.

Tourism provides jobs for more than 200,000 Australians and injects more than $32 billion into regional Australia.

This funding will help local regions diversify and deliver a lasting economic benefit.

Tourism is a vital economic driver that can assist farmers and whole regional communities through tough times on the land by injecting a steady flow of money into the economy.

A growing number of farmers and winemakers are diversifying into tourism venures such as farm stays, bed and breakfast, winery tours and cellar door restaurants – and their initiatives are really paying off.

Even in times of drought these facets of the farm or winery business can still deliver profits, and is not dependant on rainfall for results.

South Australian projects to be offered through the Australian Tourism Development Program include:

Flame Tree Holdings Pty Ltd will receive $100,000 for its Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience, a marine information and tour centre. The centre will comprise an information and reception area, conference space for up to 50 delegates and access for the disabled and mobility impaired.

Claytons Drovers Pty Ltd will receive $100,000 for a project that puts a working cattle station onto the international tourism market as a preferred destination where visitors may experience first hand the essence of outback life. It includes musters on horseback; guided trail rides, and living in the atmosphere of a working cattle station.

Rawnsley Park Station will receive $100,000 to expand its eco-villas in the Flinders Ranges. The Station’s existing luxury eco-villas, opened in June 2006, have proved to be an outstanding addition to tourism facilities in the Flinders Ranges. The eco-villa expansion will include the construction of four new eco-villas and a new reception building of the same rendered strawbale construction.

Vahlano Hotels Pty Ltd will receive $100,000 to upgrade its Marree Hotel accommodation and outdoor guest facilities. The project will add 10 quality ensuite motel accommodation units overlooking a landscaped barbeque area with sail-covered swimming pool to the existing accommodation at the Marree Hotel. Marree is a small historic tourist outback town located at the junction of the iconic Birdsville and Oodnadatta Tracks in the far north of outback South Australia. The hotel was built in 1893 and is a National Trust heritage building.

The District Council of Yorke Peninsula will receive $100,000 for its Back to School Holidays project at Coobowie. This project will see the conversion of the Coobowie School grounds and school house into a multi function accommodation centre, situated in Coobowie on the southern Yorke Peninsula.

For more information please call Kevin Lowe on 02 62777 450.



BOOST FOR KANGAROO ISLAND'S TOURISM INDUSTRY

Kangaroo Island’s tourism industry is forging ahead, with international visitor numbers up 10%, according to figures just released.

Around 36,300 international visitors came to Kangaroo Island in the 12 months to June 2007, up from 33,000 in 2005-06.

Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith, on Kangaroo Island last month for Community Cabinet, said the new visitor figures are a sign of great things to come for Kangaroo Island’s tourism industry.

“With the $15 million Southern Ocean Lodge due to open in March 2008, and a raft of other tourism development happening across the island, the future is looking bright for tourism on Kangaroo Island,” she said.

“The State Government is committed to assisting this industry growth, and has been working with Southern Ocean Lodge developers, Baillie Lodges, to make sure this world-class accommodation – which has already featured in the UK travel media – goes ahead in the most sustainable way possible.

“This financial year, the Government has also provided funding to three other tourism developments, worth almost $500,000 in total. These include Dudley Wines’ new cellar door and café, as well as the Island’s popular campsites.”

Minister Lomax-Smith said Kangaroo Island is widely regarded overseas as “Australia’s Galapagos”, with easy access to native wildlife and spectacular forms of nature.

“These natural attractions are now being packaged together with the Island’s world-class food and wine to create an incredible holiday experience and I look forward to working with the Island’s tourism industry to further build and spread the word about this unique experience in the future.

“Kangaroo Island’s brilliant blend of tourism attractions will feature this financial year in the State Government’s innovative advertising campaigns across Australian TV, print and electronic media.

“From early February 2008, you’ll see Channel 9 personality Lisa McCaskell on TV talking about her favourite Kangaroo Island holiday experiences as part of a year-long campaign to raise our regions’ profiles.

“We will also continue to market Kangaroo Island through the successful Brilliant Bargains campaign, featuring a colour lift out in The Sunday Mail.”

For more information please call Julia Angove on 08 8463 4610.



SA FERRY SCOOPS NATIONAL GREEN AWARD

Last month, Sea SA celebrated carriage of its 20,000th vehicle just eight months since launching the new Spencer Gulf ferry service, a triumph not just on business grounds, but for the environment says the Australian Marine Environment Protection Association (AUSMEPA).

Soon after launching, Sea SA scooped AUSMEPA’s annual award for providing an environmentally sound form of transport which is saving more than 24,000 tonnes of carbon emissions generated by road traffic annually.

Every vehicle which chooses to travel by ferry between Wallaroo and Lucky Bay not only saves three and a half hours in drive time, but over 350 kilometres in Co2 producing road travel, making the cross-Gulf voyage the wiser choice in the face of climate change.

Sea SA Managing Director, Stephanie Dawson, said, "Our aim, to operate two ferries on this route, will produce 733 tonnes of Co2 annually.

To drive around the Spencer Gulf, the same volume of vehicles would produce 25,110 tonnes of Co2 annually, which is 34 times as much.”

“So suddenly, not only is ferry travel the smarter choice if you want to avoid driver fatigue, save time and reduce wear and tear on your car and our roads, but it is also the greener choice.

“You could say drivers who choose the ferry service are helping Australia to move closer towards fulfilling its environmental obligations under the Kyoto Protocol."

For more information please call Justine Day on 0411 611 414.



STEAMRANGER TO RESUME SERVICES FROM MOUNT BARKER

After an exhaustive 12 month program to restore the rail corridor between Mount Barker and Strathalbyn SteamRanger Heritage Railway has resumed its popular services from Mount Barker Station.

As one of South Australia’s most enduring attractions for the last 30 years, SteamRanger has been running services from Mount Barker to Strathalbyn and Victor Harbor since 1996.

A minor derailment in 2006 saw SteamRanger Heritage Railway impose a closure of the line until they were satisfied that the track was up to their high standard this year.

The Sleepers were paid for in part by SteamRanger funds and the balance through generous donations from the community, local businesses and volunteers via Steamranger’s Sleeper Donor Program launched in late 2006.

“It is a credit to the efforts of the volunteers who worked tirelessly on the track and the many people who contributed to ensure that SteamRanger and this state asset will be around for a long time to come,” said SteamRanger’s President, Ben Greeneklee.

SteamRanger currently maintains 84km of track including signals, crossings and bridges between Mount Barker Junction and Victor Harbor.

“Many of our customers regard the journey through the Adelaide Hills as the ‘best part of the trip’ said Marketing Manager, Marshall Flanagan.

People wishing to book a seat should call 1300 655 991.

For more information please call Marshall Flanagan on 08 8398 2761.

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