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Tourism News
WORLD BEACH VOLLEYBALL STADIUM TO
TRANSFORM GLENELG
Seven hundred tonnes of sand will temporarily transform Moseley Square,
Glenelg, into a world-class volleyball stadium in March.
The state-of-the-art stadium will host a 10-day festival of beach
volleyball that includes the Swatch FIVB Beach Volley World Tour
and the Australian Beach Volleyball Championships.
It has also been revealed that 26 of the 30 top female teams in the
world, representing 29 countries, and 28 of the top 38 men’s
teams, representing 30 countries, will compete in the South
Australian leg of the tour.
Premier Mike Rann says construction of the stadium will begin in early
March, to be ready in time for the start of the festival on Friday
21 March.
“This is the most significant international beach volleyball event to be
witnessed in Australia since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, where
it was a huge success, and it will be staged in our very own
backyard,” Mr Rann said.
“The Adelaide Australia Open is the first event on the Swatch FIVB Beach
Volley World Tour Calendar for 2008.
“We were the first stop in world cycling and now we’ll also be the first
stop in world beach volleyball.
“Athletes will not only compete for World Tour glory, but also
qualification points for the Beijing Olympic Games.
“The 3000-seat stadium will be built to international standard and will
transform the Glenelg landscape for the duration of the volleyball
event.
“I encourage all South Australians to take the opportunity to celebrate
the end of summer by the beach and witness elite men and women
playing beach volleyball at its best.”
FIVB technical supervisor, Lori Okimura, who recently visited Adelaide,
says the conditions and atmosphere will be near perfect for a
showcase of beach volleyball.
“Glenelg Beach is one of the only natural beach venues used for the
Swatch FIVB World Tour and it is definitely one of the most
beautiful settings for the best volleyball players in the world to
compete,” Lori Okimura says.
“It is clear the organisers have taken extraordinary measures to ensure
a successful event.
“I would especially like to recognise the outstanding support from the
Government of South Australia through the South Australian Tourism
Commission and Events South Australia.”
The Adelaide Australia Open will be a new addition to the world renowned
Swatch FIVB Beach Volley World Tour.
Volleyball is a global sport with a massive international audience and
the television broadcast coverage around the world will be a huge
boost for promotion of South Australia’s ‘brilliant blend’.
Key tourism markets such as the UK, Europe, Japan, USA and the Middle
East all will showcase South Australia through the program
broadcast.
The event will be held as part of a festival of beach volleyball in
South Australia over ten days from 21 to 30 March, which also
includes the Australian Beach Volleyball Championships over Easter.
For further information on the Swatch FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour
visit www.wtadelaideopen.com. Tickets can be purchased online at
www.ticketek.com.au
For more information please call Michele D'Aloia on 08 8463 4695.
NEW TOURISM VENTURE A FIRST FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA
A new tourism venture, tapping into the profitable cruise
market, will see a major passenger ship based at Outer Harbor for
the first time early next year.
The MV Funchal – a 550-passenger cruise ship owned by Classic
International Cruises (CIC) - will take to South Australian waters
in 2009, and will not only open up regional destinations, but also
entice a new breed of visitors to the State.
Tourism Minister Dr Jane Lomax-Smith says securing the MV Funchal is a
coup for South Australia and has the potential to increase
visitors to the State.
“Cruise ships contribute a great deal to the tourism industry in South
Australia and having a major passenger ship based here will
provide ongoing benefits,” she says.
“In 2005/2006, it was estimated that the cruise ship season contributed
somewhere between $950,000 and $2.5 million to the economy. This
includes dollars spent by visitors on shopping, food/drink,
transport, tours and attractions.
“Almost 11,000 passengers and 6,500 crew visited South Australia in that
cruise year, which saw 11 ships visiting our shores.
“The decision by CIC to base the MV Funchal here during next year’s
cruise season will undoubtedly contribute to tourism expenditure
and have a positive economic impact on both Adelaide and key
regions.
“It will also offer international, interstate and South Australian
visitors their first opportunity to experience our stunning coast
on a cruise ship.”
The MV Funchal will spend several weeks a year based at Outer Harbor
from late January 2009, and will begin its first Adelaide season
sailing from Fremantle to Outer Harbor, via Albany and Esperance,
before embarking on cruises through South Australian regional
waters, taking in Kangaroo Island, Gulf St Vincent, Spencer Gulf
and Port Lincoln.
“This is an example of how we are encouraging new tourism operators to
invest in the State. Cruise ships have a huge following around the
world, and it is a market that South Australia can take advantage
of, and one that can have long-term flow-on effects for the State.”
The first MV Funchal cruises in South Australia are scheduled to
commence from late January 2009.
Adelaide-based tourism operator, Proud Australia, will market and sell
the cruise holiday packages, along with additional side tours to
key South Australian tourism destinations such as the Flinders
Ranges, the Murray River, wine regions and the outback.
To enquire about the MV Funchal Southern Ocean Cruises in 2009, contact
Proud Australia Holidays National Cruise Booking Centre on (08)
8311 1196 or Toll Free on 1300 854 897.
For more information please call Julia Angove on 08 8463 4610.
SA new edition of the definitive guide to holidaying in
South Australia – the 2008/2009 South Australian Shorts book – was
released during February.
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says the new edition contains hundreds
of holiday packages from around the State, many of which offer
South Australian travellers something different.
“The latest edition offers more than 340 great holiday deals, special
rates, bonus nights, fabulous family holiday packages and extra
inclusions, providing something to suit every traveller,” Minister
Lomax-Smith says.
“With a comprehensive selection of accommodation, houseboats, tours,
cruises and hire vehicle options, it’s the complete guide to
booking and making the most of your South Australian holiday.
“South Australia has plenty to offer, and these packaged South
Australian Shorts holidays provide inspiration to get you and your
partner, or family, out of the house to discover some of the best
of your own State.”
A list of ‘must-see and do’ attractions in each of the tourist regions,
along with detailed maps, dining information and an event calendar
will help travellers to get the most out of their holiday.
New to the book this year is a self-drive section, with a host of
suggested driving itineraries covering the entire State.
Other new activities and accommodation providers to look out for in this
year’s book include the Misty Rose Barossa Chalets, Hog Bay Hill,
Riverland Leisure Canoe Tours and the new Port Lincoln Hotel.
The Seafood & Beyond Rewards Card is also featured, where visitors can
use the card to experience tours and collect rewards points at
businesses along the renowned Seafood and Aquaculture Trail on the
Eyre Peninsula.
Minister Lomax-Smith says tourism is big business in SA, and the holiday
packages in South Australian Shorts allow South Australians to
save money while they support the State’s economy.
“In addition to the short breaks featured in the book, South Australian
Shorts can also be used to book longer stays in South Australia,”
Minister Lomax-Smith says.
“Short holidays help us to strengthen our position as a leading tourist
destination and brings us significantly closer to reaching our
tourism industry expenditure goal of $6.3 billion by 2014.”
Books are available from the South Australian Visitor and Travel Centre
at 18 King William Street, Adelaide (ph 1300 655 276). For more
information please visit www.southaustralia.com.
For more information please call Julia Angove on 08 8463
4610.
SA'S GREEN CREDENTIALS ON SHOW TO THE WORLD
South Australia recently hosted the International Solar
Cities Congress, helping to put Adelaide on the map in terms of
environmental sustainability and ‘green city living’.
More than 700 delegates from 35 countries attended the event, which was
held from 17 to 21 February.
The Congress, part of the International Solar Cities Initiative,
featured more than 90 speakers from 20 countries, a mayoral forum,
panel discussion, student participation and field tours.
Special guest and keynote speaker was Robert F Kennedy Jnr, a man who
was named by Time Magazine as a Hero for the Planet for his work
as an author and environmental activist.
Dr Lomax-Smith told State Parliament the congress would showcase South
Australia’s commitment to sustainability and climate change among
influential business and community leaders.
“Many people don’t realise that South Australia is way ahead of the rest
of the nation when it comes to environmental sustainability,” Dr
Lomax-Smith says.
“We did not have a single wind farm when Labor came into office in 2002
and now we generate 48% of Australia’s wind power energy.
“South Australians should also be proud that we generate 45% of the
nation’s grid-connected solar energy, despite having less than 8%
of Australia’s population.
“The State’s Cabinet Ministers also are about to become the first in the
nation, and possibly the world, to offset the greenhouse gases
used in the course of their duties.
“On top of that we have climate change legislation with renewable energy
targets.
“South Australia is well and truly setting the pace in ‘green city
living’ initiatives.
“Our State can use our sustainable environment as a marketing tool in a
society that is increasingly aware of its effects on the planet.
“This Congress provides us with a platform to continue to drive the
agenda on a national and international level.”
The 2008 Congress was secured for Adelaide by the Capital City
Committee, a partnership between the South Australian Government
and the Adelaide City Council.
For more information please call Julia Angove on 08 8463 4610.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA TO BE TOP OF MIND FOR EUROPEAN MARKET
The South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) is aiming to
make a major splash in key European markets, with the launch of a
significant marketing campaign and the unveiling of its new
consumer websites.
Both initiatives are aimed at increasing awareness of South Australia in
Europe, as well as converting consumer preference into visits to
the State.
The SATC will partner with Tourism Northern Territory (TNT) in Italy to
promote the popular drive route between Adelaide and Darwin – the
Explorers Way – and will also market key destinations such as
Kangaroo Island as part of the marketing push.
The campaign has been launched during the peak European booking season
and timed to tie in with Italy’s most important travel show, BIT
in Milan.
Campaign elements include a highly visible street promotion with signage
on 200 Milan taxis, plus editorial and a 16-page insert in premium
travel media publication Plein Air. The SATC Italian language
website also features special travel offers from trade partners,
and offers a call to action to consumers.
SATC Chief Executive, Andrew McEvoy, says the Explorer’s Way campaign is
the largest marketing initiative undertaken by the SATC in Italy.
“South Australia has seen very strong growth from the Italian market. We
have outperformed the rest of the Australia, with a 61 per cent
growth in visitors recorded from the 12 month period ended June
2004 to the 12 month period ended June 2007, compared with a 21
per cent growth nationally,” Mr McEvoy says.
“The UK/European market accounts for 55 per cent of all international
visitors to South Australia.
“It is the most aggressive and innovative Australian campaign seen in
recent years and we look forward to seeing strong results in the
Italian market.”
The SATC launched its new Italian international website to coincide with
the campaign in early February. The site,
www.southaustalia.com/it, replaces the SATC’s previous Italian
portal www.southaustralia.it and is the first of seven foreign
language versions of the SATC’s new international site to be
rolled out by the SATC.
The SATC’s new UK website, www.southaustralia.com/uk was also unveiled
in January, with Mr McEvoy adding that it is the first English
language version of the SATC’s new international website to be
released.
“Our new UK website is the first UK-specific SATC website, which allows
us to have a stronger presence in this important market,” he says
This UK site has also been used as call to action in a provocative new
advertising campaign being undertaken by the South Australian
Government to promote both immigration and tourism in major UK
daily newspapers, including the Sunday Times, Metro and Evening
Standard.
Eleven versions of the SATC’s new international website will be rolled
out during the next six months, with each site tailored to
individual consumer tastes in each country, while showcasing some
of the best South Australian tourism experiences on offer.
“In a cluttered global market, we have seen major changes in the travel
distribution system, driven by evolving consumer booking
behaviours, so it is vital that the SATC continues to improve
product offerings to the consumer via the digital world,” Mr
McEvoy says.
“The SATC is committed to embracing the potential of the online
environment, and the international versions of southaustralia.com
will allow us to really harness that potential in order to sell
the State as a world-class holiday destination.”
Remaining websites due for release during the next six months include
German, French, North American, New Zealand, Korean, Singapore,
Japanese, and both traditional and simplified Chinese.
For more information please call Julia Angove on 08 8463 4610.
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