South Australia’s wine and tourism sectors in the spotlight in Advertiser/Flinders University’s Fearless Conversations series | Watch the full replay

Covid passports? Life beyond Chinese exports? Travel bubbles? The big issues facing SA wine and tourism were on the agenda in today’s Fearless Conversations panel. Watch a full replay.

Growing optimism and confidence in future skilled jobs are flowing through the wine and tourism industries after a battering from Covid and Chinese tariffs.

Both have had to “pivot” — seeking new markets and diversifying — but the resilient sectors see 2022 as the year of the bounce back.

Flinders University Professor Roberta Crouch.

Industry bosses say this hinges on “clear and consistent pathways from governments” including an end to snap lockdowns and assurances South Australian travellers heading overseas to “green zones” of low risk won’t suddenly face an extra 14 days of quarantine on return.

Wine and tourism industry leaders joined the Fearless Conversations forum, a collaboration between The Advertiser and Flinders University to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing these two key industries.

Academic expert in both wine and tourism Flinders University Professor Roberta Crouch, chief executive of Phil Hoffmann Travel Peter Williams, Wirra Wirra Vineyards chief executive Andrew Kay and sixth generation winemaker Corrina Wright from Oliver’s Taranga Vineyard gave frank assessments of where these industries stand — and were upbeat about the future.

All agree vaccine passports are “inevitable” although neither Wirra Wirra or Oliver’s Taranga are rushing to join Adelaide Hills winery Bird in Hand as the first to demand vaccination proof for staff and guests.

Peter Williams noted the demand by airlines and cruise lines for vax passports makes it a foregone conclusion that to travel overseas, proof of double vaccination will be required.

While crushing Chinese tariffs as well as the pandemic have dislocated the wine industry, Mr Kay and Ms Wright were confident that markets including the UK, US, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and more would prove good alternatives.

Oliver's Taranga winemaker Corrina Wright will be discussing the challenges facing the wine and tourism sectors as part of the next Flinders University Fearless Conversation on Wednesday.

Prof Crouch observed Australia’s reputation for honest, authentic, trustworthy and honourable dealings will help at a corporate level when negotiating wine exports in a troubled world — even more than a “clean green” image — and even flows through to a label level for a buyer in a bottle shop.

While wine and tourism have been hit hard by the pandemic, Prof Crouch said it was a great time to get into both areas as a career, as a skills shortage becomes apparent in a post-Covid world.

“These industries will certainly bounce back — employers are looking for skilled people and there are a lot of job opportunities,” she said.

In the spirit of the “fearless” conversation Andrew Kay addressed the fine line between selling enough wine to make a profit and responsible consumption, as health activists increasingly put alcohol in the firing line.

“The industry promotes wine as part of a meal or an occasion with food,” he said.

“ We don’t promote that it improves the occasion. It doesn’t make you a better singer or dancer … believe it or not.”