Unlocking heritage places to boost SA tourism
South Australians can have their say during the final stage of consultation on a new heritage tourism strategy for the state.
A draft 10-year strategy has been developed with extensive input from the tourism industry and others with an interest in heritage tourism.
It seeks to increase tourist spending on trips with a heritage component from $1 billion in 2019 to $1.58 billion by 2030.
Heritage Tourism Alliance chair Keith Conlon said tourism could help unlock the state’s heritage places and stories to create unique experiences found nowhere else.
“By doing this we can encourage visitors to stay longer, spend more, connect with our heritage and take our stories with them,” he said.
“Whether it is exploring the Coorong with a Ngarrindjeri cultural guide, wine-tasting at a 150-year-old Barossa Valley winery or visiting our museums and markets, our state’s heritage lives on and is there for everyone to explore.”
The South Australian community was invited last year to work with the alliance to identify how this tourism potential could be realised.
“Guided by more than 280 contributions from a diverse range of participants, a draft heritage tourism strategy and action plan have now been completed,” Mr Conlon said.
“Following the profound impact of the pandemic, it is now more important than ever that we maximise heritage tourism's potential. The draft strategy seeks to harness the promise of our heritage and provide a roadmap for achieving growth in the visitor economy.”
South Australia has 2302 heritage places and 17 designated state heritage areas. The Naracoorte Caves National Park is the state’s only World Heritage site.
The draft strategy seeks to increase investment and activity that conserves, retains and takes pride in the sites and stories that shape the South Australian heritage visitor experience, and to give visitors more reasons to share their stories of the state around the world.
It commits to heritage experiences that are distinctive and high-quality, contemporary and engaging and authentic and honest. The draft strategy is accompanied by a draft action plan that covers the first two years of implementation.
The Heritage Tourism Alliance is made up of people from across the tourism industry and heritage sector and was formed to work with the government to develop the strategy and is chaired by Keith Conlon.
Public consultation is open at YourSAy and closes on 17 November 2020.
