The Marshall Liberal Government is investing in a variety of successful and emerging regional events and festivals through an annual grants program designed to further drive the $6.8 billion visitor economy.
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, David Ridgway, said he was pleased to announce the 30 recipients of the 2019-20 Regional Events & Festivals Program (REFP) and the Community Events Development Fund (CEDF), with each sharing in $348,000 in total grant funding.
The grants, which will contribute to event delivery and marketing, will assist food and wine, cultural, artistic and sporting events and reinforce the Government’s commitment to supporting the state’s 18,000 hardworking and passionate local tourism operators.
“We are delighted to be able to support and encourage some of our fantastic regional events and festivals which not only create enormous excitement and goodwill in a community but generate significant flow-on economic benefit and potential jobs growth,” said Minister Ridgway.
“Tourism is a vital economic driver for regional South Australia. The regions account for a quarter of the state’s population but generate nearly half of SA’s tourism expenditure.
“We want to encourage more South Australians and interstate and international visitors to get out and about and experience the very best that SA has to offer, spending time and money in our regions and growing our tourism sector.
“Events and festivals are a wonderful way to enhance the tourism offering of a particular region and ensure positive economic benefit for local restaurants, motels, cafes and small retailers.”
The grants build on the Government’s significant investment in tourism – with the 2019-20 State Budget committing $43 million for international and domestic marketing of South Australia.
Successful sponsorships under the program are:
Statewide
South Australian Living Artists Festival (SALA)
Adelaide
Adelaide Beer and BBQ Festival
Feast Festival
Bay Sheffield
Adelaide Hills
Bay to Birdwood
Crush
Winter Reds
Barossa
Barossa Gourmet Weekend
Clare Valley
Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend
Eyre Peninsula
Ceduna Oysterfest
Tunarama
Rodeo by the Sea (new event)
Teakle Autosprint
Fleurieu Peninsula
Handpicked
Lower Lakes Stockman’s Challenge
Festival of Nature
Red Poles & Spinning Yarns
Flinders Ranges & Outback
Coober Pedy Opal Festival
500 Miles of Music
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island Cup
Limestone Coast
Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations
Fringe in Mount Gambier
Generations in Jazz
Robe Home Brew & Craft Beer festival
Bay Escape
Murray River Lakes & Coorong
Dupang Festival
Riverland
Riverland Dinghy Club Championships
Riverland Wine & Food Festival
Yorke Peninsula
Seafood on Spencer (new event)
Yorke Peninsula Saltwater Classic
Background:
The REFP and CEDF are managed by the South Australian Tourism Commission.
There is no maximum amount for funding delivered through the REFP, while the CEDF provides grants of $5,000 to assist organisers with operational, marketing and communications activities.
In 2019-20, 8 events have received funding through the CEDF and 22 have received sponsorships under the REFP.
For more information visit www.tourism.sa.gov.au
