South Australian tourism industry set to benefit from egg-cellent weekend
Tourists have packed out popular SA holiday spots to celebrate the Easter long weekend.
SA News
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South Australia’s tourism industry is expected to receive a $200 million dollar boost over the Easter long weekend as holiday-makers flock to popular tourist hotspots.
This projection is more than the $173 million predicted in 2023.
Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison said locals are willing “(explore) their own backyard in big numbers” with many heading to regional locations for an Easter getaway.
“Regions such as the Yorke Peninsula, Fleurieu Peninsula and Flinders Ranges and Outback in particular are expected to benefit the most, with Yorke Peninsula often experiencing its busiest period of the year over Easter,” Ms Bettison said.
“It is also a particularly busy weekend for camping, with many of the state’s campgrounds reaching capacity.”
Stansbury Caravan Park and their second location at Oyster Point were packed with Easter bookings with park manager, Michelle Hoffman telling The Advertiser there was “not one spot left”.
“We have the same families every year … this is their Easter thing,” Ms Hoffman said.
“Some have been coming for 30-40 years.
“It’s like a meeting spot and then they come and do their own thing.”
There was plenty on offer for the usual crowd as well as interstate visitors with the park handing out Easter eggs for kids and running a colouring in competition.
The Stansbury Seaside Market was another popular option for tourists on Saturday.
At West Beach Parks it was a similar story with all sites completely booked for the long weekend.
CEO of West Beach Parks, Kate Anderson said the location has experienced their “best April on record” with Gather Round, Easter, Anzac Day and Victorian and South Australian school holidays all falling in the same month.
“We have about 3,000 to 3,500 people on site,” Ms Anderson said.
“It’s been amazing.”
The park has provided guests with a “jam-packed” activities schedule for the long weekend with everything from cookie making to face painting keeping children content until the Easter bunny arrives.
Amanda Ruddock has spent Easter at West Beach with her family and friends for the past four years.
“Easter is a time of coming together,” the mum-of-two said.
“It’s been lovely being surrounded by community at this time.”
The Allenby Gardens resident said she had been spending her long weekend “enjoying the beach” and “taking time at a slower pace”.
On the Fleurieu Peninsula, the Dolman family were enjoying their long weekend with their cousins and grandparents who had all secured picturesque spots at the Rapid Bay Campground.
“It’s fantastic because we used to come here as kids growing up back when we only had the tent to sleep in, roughing it on the blow up mattress,” Mrs Dolman said.
“Now we have the vans and all the kids.”
The Royal Park family said they usually getaway every Easter and will make the most of the sequence of public holidays by taking eleven days off in total and heading to Walkers Flat.
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