South Australia named Lonely Planet Top Destination, wins 2019 World Routes aviation conference worth $30m to state
ADELAIDE is set to take off with the biggest conference ever held here, involving 3000 people and set to pump $50m into our economy.
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WHEN the world flies into Adelaide in 2019 for the World Routes aviation conference, they will find a sparkling new $50 million 165-room hotel within a stroll of the airport terminal.
To get an idea of how big this conference is – it would need 18 such hotels to accommodate all 3000 delegates – unless they want to bunk in together.
It will be the biggest conference ever held in South Australia and the first time the world’s largest aviation trade business event has been held in Australia.
The three-day event is expected to pump $20 million into the economy as executives from major airlines, airports, tourism and aviation businesses converge.
For most, their introduction to SA will be flying in with coast and Hills views to the award-winning Adelaide Airport with its new hotel which is due to open in late 2018.
Adelaide will be on show to top ranking global decision makers and it is expected many will leverage the visit into a holiday, visiting regional drawcards from Kangaroo Island and the wine regions to the Flinders Ranges.
Representatives from airports and airlines will discuss new route opportunities as figures released last week show global airport passenger traffic grew 3.6 per cent in August.
The announcement of the lucrative conference comes as SA basks in multiple tourism success including a record cruise ship season, airlines Qatar and China Southern starting direct flights, new hotels opening and Lonely Planet naming SA one of its top 10 regions to visit in 2017.
It also comes against a backdrop of new vibrancy in the city as the Riverbank redevelopment continues to inject new life into the city and the upgraded Adelaide Oval attracts sports fans keen to stay for longer than just the match.
During the three-day World Routes forum, international airports will pitch to airlines for new route opportunities and it will provide the perfect opportunity to showcase Adelaide to top ranking global decision makers.
The event has previously been hosted in cities such as Chicago, Las Vegas, Abu Dhabi, Berlin and next year will be held in Barcelona.
It is massive but it is just one of dozens of events being lured to Adelaide, many to the upgraded Adelaide Convention Centre.
More than 300 events and conferences, some attracting up to 1000 delegates, are scheduled for this year, generating plenty of business as convention delegates spend about $632 a day on average.
Tourism now is one of South Australia’s key economic drivers and the visitor economy is at a record $5.95 billion, according to the State Government which is aiming to grow it to $8 billion by 2020.
Tourism Minister Leon Bignell said winning World Routes 2019 was a huge coup for South Australia.
“We beat the rest of the world to bring this massive convention to Adelaide.” he said.
“It is the world’s biggest trade conference and will help deepen our connections with aviation leaders, as well as see more than $20 million pumped into our visitor economy.
“The redeveloped Riverbank precinct, together with the state’s growing list of international airlines flying direct into Adelaide such as Qatar and China Southern, helped Adelaide secure World Routes.
“We are increasingly becoming internationally renowned as a world-class destination for major business events.”
Adelaide Airport general manager Mark Young said the airport supported the goal to grow tourism and improve international air access.
“We have been attending World Routes for close to 20 years and recognise the importance of this event, as well as the massive opportunity it provides South Australia,” he said.
“It will support our continuing pitch for increased airline services by bringing key targets to our front door.”
Tourism Australia managing director John O’Sullivan said the conference is a huge opportunity for Australia to show the world’s route planners why our country is such a great investment proposition for future international aviation development.
“Destination marketing is a complex and highly competitive business and these are the professionals who play such an important part in deciding where international airlines choose to point their aircraft,” he said.
An analysis by Routesonline notes Adelaide Airport is now Australia’s fastest growing capital city airport, handling around eight million passengers annually.
Expansion to the international arrivals hall will facilitate increased international visitor flows and allow it to further grow its overseas network, especially China arrivals, through a new Guangzhou link that offers easy connections to other mainland cities.
“More than $500 million in infrastructure upgrades have already taken place at Adelaide Airport to support its growth, and an additional $1 billion is forecasted to be invested over the next five years to turn Australia’s fifth largest city to develop into a big city while retaining its small city charm,” editor Richard Maslen wrote.
A separate piece published this month by Routesonline was headlined “Adelaide on path to becoming Australia’s new big destination” — and that was before Lonely Planet named SA as one of its top 10 regions for 2017.