Tourism News
SA’S TOURISM INDUSTRY TACKLING CLIMATE
CHANGE
A world-first program to reduce the tourism industry’s carbon footprint
will be trialled first in South Australia.
Ecotourism Australia’s new Climate Change Certification program will
allow the travelling public to identify South Australian
accommodation and tour operators who are committed to reducing
their carbon emissions.
The South Australian Tourism Commission, together with the Great Barrier
Reef Marine Protection Authority, is helping to fund this new,
Australian-first certification program, which will be trialled in
South Australia and Queensland in early 2008.
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says South Australia is the logical
place to trial the new program, which aims to boost awareness of
carbon offsetting in tourism.
“Our State is already a leader in the field of ecologically sustainable
tourism development, with around 15% of the nation’s Eco Certified
tourism operators based here,” Dr Lomax-Smith says.
“The new Climate Change Certification will allow our tourism industry to
take its environmental commitment to the next level.
“That won’t just be good for the environment, but also for the State’s
economy, as more visitors come here to take holidays that minimise
their carbon footprint.
“More than one million ‘nature-based’ visitors already come to South
Australia each year. That number is set to climb, as increasing
numbers of domestic and international travellers choose ‘green’
holiday experiences.
South Australian Steve Pocock last month received the National Ecoguide
Award for Excellence at the National Ecotourism Conference in
Mebourne.
Mr Pocock’s company, Great Australian Bight Safaris, offers one of 76
Eco Certified tourism experiences available to visitors in South
Australia.
These experiences range from swimming with dolphins and cave diving to
wine tasting and camel safaris through the Outback.
More than 20% of South Australia is set aside as reserves for
conservation – a greater percentage than any other mainland State.
More than 400 conference delegates will experience South Australia’s
ecotourism experiences when the State hosts the next National
Ecotourism Conference in November 2008.
For more information please call Julia Angove on 08 8463 4610.
TIGER ROARS INTO ADELAIDE
Tiger Airways’ announcement that it will introduce Melbourne to Adelaide
flights means it’s even easier and more convenient to fly in to
South Australia for your next holiday.
Tiger will start flying the Melbourne to Adelaide route twice a day from
10 January 2008, and tickets are on sale now.
This is great news for the Victorians who make up almost half of South
Australia’s interstate visitors, since Tiger Airways is renowned
for its low airfare prices.
South Australian Tourism Commission Chief Executive, Andrew McEvoy, says
Tiger’s announcement shows that airlines are acknowledging the
demand for more flights into Adelaide.
“The new Tiger flights come on top of recent announcements by Air New
Zealand and Singapore Airlines to offer more international
services into Adelaide,” Mr McEvoy says.
“It’s easy to see why demand for flights into South Australia is up,
with a raft of innovative new tourism developments happening
across the State and a major events calendar featuring a stellar
line-up of arts, sports and music in 2008.
“We will kick off next year with the Tour Down Under, which in 2008 will
become the first UCI ProTour cycling race outside Europe.
“Then in February we will host the world’s second-largest Fringe
Festival and the world’s greatest touring car event, the
action-packed Clipsal 500 Adelaide.
“Sporting fans will also love the Adelaide Australia Open, the new
Swatch FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, to be held in March 2008,
and the International Rugby 7s, to be held in April.
“Other event highlights early next year will be the
internationally-acclaimed Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts in
February and March, and the huge outdoor music and cultural
festival, WOMADelaide, in March.
Mr McEvoy says that tourism development happening in South Australia
includes the seven-storey, 111-room Port Lincoln Hotel, which is
due to open before the end of the year, and a $1 million expansion
of Rawnsley Park Station’s award-winning Eco-Villas in the
Flinders Ranges
“In March 2008, Australia’s leading luxury wilderness lodge – Southern
Ocean Lodge – will open on Kangaroo Island, and bookings are
already being taken for this exceptional accommodation,” he says.
“The South Australian Tourism Commission will continue to work with
airlines to make sure the number of flights into our State keeps
pace with demand as our tourism industry forges ahead towards our
goal of $6.3 billion in tourist expenditure by December 2014.”
For more information please call Julia Angove on 08 8463 4610.
LET’S MAKE OUR FIRST PRO TOUR RACE A
RECORD-BREAKER
South Australians are being urged to sign up for public cycling events
at next January’s Tour Down Under and help to set new
participation records for the State’s first ever UCI ProTour race.
Premier Mike Rann says people already are registering in their hundreds
for the 2008 Škoda Breakaway Series, which offers races to suit
everyone from the first-time rider to serious regular riders.
The 2007 Breakaway series attracted 3525 registrations and Premier Rann
believes it’s a number that South Australians can better next year.
“I want South Australians to give the Europeans a lesson in cycling next
January,” Premier Rann says.
“We will be the FIRST country outside of Europe to stage a UCI ProTour
cycling race and this is our chance to show the French, Italians,
Belgians and others that we are serious about cycling.
“Over the next couple of months, we will be announcing the many ways
that South Australians can get involved in this historic occasion.
“However, bicycle owners can get in on the action early by registering
for one of the three major events that make up the Škoda Breakaway
Series. They are:
1. The Mutual Community Challenge Tour presented by The Advertiser (25
January) where cyclists can ride the same stage four route – from
the river town of Mannum through the Adelaide Hills to Strathalbyn
– as the world’s top cyclists. Two distances are available – 134km
or 73.5km.
2. The Mutual Community Fun Tour presented by The Advertiser (20
January) where anyone who can ride a bike can cycle 12km from the
city to Glenelg, finishing with a lap around the Down Under Class
course.
3. The Mini Tour for Kids presented by UniSA (20 January) when children
aged 8 to 14 years can ride a hot-dog loop that includes the
finish arch of the Down Under Classic at Glenelg. Family fun
entertainment will be provided at Colley Reserve.
“Preparations are now in full swing for next year’s Tour Down Under. We
want it to be the biggest, best and most prestigious in the
event’s 10-year history.
“South Australia will be hosting one huge week-long party from Sunday 20
January next year and there will be plenty of opportunities for
local fans to take part.”
Registrations for the Škoda Breakaway Series are open until 5pm on
Friday, 11 January 2008. To book a place, visit
www.tourdownunder.com.au.
For more information please call Michele D’Aloia on 08 8463 4695.
MAJOR BEACH VOLLEYBALL COMPETITION BOOSTS EVENTS
LINE-UP
A brilliant line-up of events to kick off 2008 in South Australia has
been boosted with the inclusion of the Adelaide Australia Open – a
major new international beach volleyball competition.
The Adelaide Australia Open will be a new addition to the world renowned
Swatch FIVB Beach Volley World Tour.
The event will be held as part of a festival of beach volleyball in
South Australia over eight days from 23 to 30 March, which also
includes the Australian Beach Volleyball Championships over Easter.
Adelaide will be one of 26 cities around the world – joining the likes
of Paris, Berlin, Montreal, Shanghai, Prague, Barcelona, Seoul,
Singapore and Dubai – to host a leg of the Swatch FIVB tour.
Courts and grandstands will be assembled at Glenelg for the eight-day
spectacle.
“This will be a festival of beach volleyball,” Tourism Minister Jane
Lomax-Smith says.
“Spectators will be able to watch the hottest beach volleyball action
while soaking up the summer party atmosphere in Adelaide.
“The competition will be the first on the 2008 World Tour calendar and
will be a qualification event for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
“It is expected that each tournament, including Adelaide, will attract
up to 100 teams plus officials from all over the world.
“Our government has made it a major focus to bring more events to
Adelaide to create spin-off benefits for our shops, restaurants,
hotels and tourism providers.”
Dr Lomax-Smith says television broadcast coverage around the world will
be a huge boost for promotion of South Australia’s ‘brilliant
blend’.
“Most nations across the world pick up the coverage through the FIVB
distribution company, IEC Sports. Key tourism markets such as the
UK, Europe, Japan, USA and the Middle East receive a broadcast.
“Australia, through SBS and Fox Sports, will broadcast the Adelaide
Australia Open nationally.
“The Adelaide Australia Open will be the first of the 2008 World Tour
season and we will be enticing northern hemisphere visitors to
extend their stay in Adelaide and South Australia.”
Volleyball Australia president Chris Schacht says the World Tour is the
most significant international beach volleyball event in Australia
for over a decade.
“This event will enable Volleyball Australia to present a positive face
to the sporting and corporate community in this country,” Mr
Schacht says.
“Importantly, the event is a qualification tournament for the Beijing
Olympic Games and will offer a home ground advantage to our
athletes who have been performing exceptionally well at
international level over the last 10 years.”
Volleyball Australia CEO Joan Perry says the World Tour will be a great
finale for an Australian summer featuring the National Beach Tour
and the Australian Beach Volleyball Championships.
“Given his demonstrable experience and commitment to the sport over many
years, Volleyball Australia is very pleased to have Barry Couzner
leading the organising team that will have the responsibility to
deliver the event to the exacting standards of the FIVB on time
and within budget.”
For more information please call Michele D’Aloia on 08 8463 4695.
SEA SA REWARDS CLIMATE CLEVER DRIVERS
A new program to encourage drivers to help reduce the level of
green-house gases being pumped into the atmosphere has been
launched by Sea SA car & passenger ferries.
The company - which won the 2006 Australian Marine Environment
Protection Association award for saving more than 24,000 tonnes of
carbon emissions from reduced road traffic annually - wants to
reward drivers who frequently choose the ‘greener’ option of
travelling across the Spencer Gulf by ferry, saving some 350
kilometres in road travel in the process.
The Climate Clever Rewards Club offers climate-savvy drivers a free
return ferry trip between Wallaroo and Lucky Bay, for one car and
two passengers, valued at $330, once 10 full fare return trips
have been made within 12 months.
“This is more than just a loyalty program, designed to reward customers
who frequently travel by ferry,’’ Sea SA Managing Director,
Stephanie Dawson explained. “It reflects our personal commitment
to the environment and aims to encourage drivers to help move
Australia a little closer towards carbon-neutrality.”
Sea SA aims to introduce two ferries into the service in 2008, which
combined would produce just 733 tonnes of Co2 annually, Ms Dawson
said. To drive around the Gulf, the same volume of vehicles would
produce 25,110 tonnes of Co2 – 34 times as much!
As climate change remains one of the hottest issues in the looming
election and the drought continues to affect rural and
metropolitan communities across the country, Ms Dawson believed
more and more people would be looking towards micro-solutions.
“The Climate Clever Rewards Club will appeal to business travelers and
local residents alike who frequently commute between the Eyre and
Yorke Peninsulas,” she said.
“Travelling by ferry rather than taking the lengthy road trip is not
only a more relaxing option, it’s one small way in which people
can make a conscious decision to make a difference to the level of
Co2 emissions we create. That’s why we say the more your travel,
the more you save!” she added.
The Climate Clever Rewards Club is easy to join and it’s free. Terms and
conditions apply. Simply ask for a Climate Clever Rewards card at
Sea SA’s Wallaroo office and make sure you receive a stamp at the
office every time you cross the Gulf, or visit www.seasa.com.au
for further information.
For more information please call Justine Day on 0411 611 414.
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