Featured image: Adelaide Biplanes
As South Australia’s regions continue to enjoy record-breaking tourism numbers, another 12 regional businesses will receive grants to ‘soar even higher.’
The latest round of the South Australian Government’s Tourism Industry Development Fund (TIDF) grants include several new experiences including a scenic flight in the Fleurieu and luxury accommodation in one of the state’s world-class wine regions, the Clare Valley.
These new projects bring the total number of businesses benefited to a massive 42, with a wide reach across all 11 of South Australia’s tourism regions.
Premier Steven Marshall said the TIDF is giving regional economies a real boost and creating nearly 700 jobs and counting.
“One of the key aims of the TIDF is to create new jobs and develop skills and with project applications flooding into the SATC, this number will continue to rise,” says Premier Marshall.
“We know from the latest Tourism Research Australia data that January 2021 has been the best month since the pandemic began. Visits, nights and expenditure were the highest for a month since March 2020.
“These results are on the back of a strong intrastate market and recovering interstate market so it’s great that we’ve got a pipeline of new and exciting experiences to keep visitors coming back to our regions.
“All of our 42 TIDF projects will give visitors a multitude of reasons to travel to South Australia and our regions to boost our economy.”
Managing director and owner of Adelaide Biplanes on the Fleurieu Peninsula, Martyn Smith says the $28,517 in business grants will help them invest in offering the most incredible flying experiences imaginable.
“Like every other tourism operator out there, once international and interstate borders closed, we lost almost all of our customers overnight which was absolutely devastating,” Smith says.
“With an inevitable slow return for the aviation industry we have fought hard as a family to keep our passion alive to share with others into the future.
“The TIDF grant has allowed us to invest in upgrades to our 1940 DH82 Tiger Moth and 8KCAB Decathlon in the form of complete fabric restoration. This will help us continue to offer the most beautiful, awe-inspiring and unique vintage experiences to local, interstate and international visitors to the Fleurieu Peninsula. We are excited for the future ahead!”
Jim Barry Wines in the Clare Valley will be receiving a $220,000 grant for The Mill Street Retreat and will see the project including four, one-bedroom luxury apartments built in the heart of its beautiful wine region.
Managing director at Jim Barry Wines, Peter Barry says the TIDF funding will help attract valuable travellers from around the country to the region in what will be a much-needed local economy booster.
“I would like to thank Steven Marshall and his government for having the vision and foresight to deliver this funding. It has given us the confidence to take the gamble and develop this boutique accommodation experience in the Clare Valley,” Barry says.
“The Mill Street Retreat will deliver new holiday apartments to a region which is desperately short on accommodation options, especially at the high end. It will also create new jobs and genuine employment pathways for the Clare Valley community. We have used local tradespeople throughout the development, further stimulating the local economy.”
The fund is set at a cap of $20 million and runs until 31 March 2022 or until all funds have been allocated.
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