South Australians hit the open road for the regions over the long weekend
After months being cooped up at home, South Australians have made the most of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.
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The Welcome Back campaign encouraging intrastate travel hit home over the long weekend, with many regional areas booked out and an estimated $50 million injected into the state’s economy over the three days.
South Australian Tourism Commission chief executive Rodney Harrex said tourism operators reported a surge in bookings and huge numbers of visitors to the regions this weekend.
There has also been record-breaking traffic to the commission’s website, southaustralia.com, with 1.6 million visits reported – an increase of 52 per cent over the same time last year.
Some of the most popular searches included Wilpena Pound, River Murray, Kuitpo Forest and the Adelaide Central Market.
“The Welcome Back campaign was all about reminding us what we have to explore locally, and to have seen such a strong response is a credit to all South Australians,” Mr Harrex said.
Yael Katz, who runs eco-luxury accommodation Ecopia Retreat on Kangaroo Island with her husband Robert Clements, said since the Welcome Back campaign was launched they were taking a booking every day.
The couple has been running Ecopia for three years and this month is set to be their busiest June ever.
“I think Kangaroo Island is a place that might have been on a lot of people’s bucket lists and it’s great to see they’re now out exploring their backyard,” Ms Katz said.
Dudley Brown, co-owner of Fleurieu winery Inkwell Wines, said it had been a very good trading weekend.
“There’s really good vibes at the moment, people are happy to get out and spend some money,” he said.
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Hamish Seabrook, managing director of Barossa Valley winery Seabrook Wines, said many of the winery’s weekend sittings were booked out.
“I think a lot of people were busting to get out of their homes and stop staring at four walls,” he said.
Lyall Schulz, who owns Barley Stacks Wines on the Yorke Peninsula, said many of his visitors expressed delight at being able to get out of the city.
“People are wanting to support local business, so they’re spending more dollars per head,” he said.
In the Clare Valley, Sevenhill Hotel owner Paul Longbottom said the phone was running hot across the weekend, with people seeking to make bookings.
