Welcome to our latest newsletter, the TiCSA Tourism Snapshot, for September 2024.
Our CEO, Shaun de Bruyn, is currently on a well-earned holiday, and it is great to have stepped into his large shoes as Acting-CEO so he can fully relax in the warmth of SE Asia.
Judging for the 2024 South Australian Tourism Awards is well underway. We appreciate the passion and dedication our panel of expert judges bring to this task, and we know entrants highly value their insights and feedback. While the idea of someone critical examining your business can be daunting, awards entrants consistently identify this as one of the great benefits of the program as it assists them to evolve and enhance business and tourism offerings, with an eye firmly on excellence. This year, we received 126 nominations across 28 tourism awards categories. Finalists will be announced later this month, and we look forward to celebrating with all entrants at our gala dinner on Friday 1 November. Ticket and event information will be available soon.
From broad, national issues to those confronting individual business, TiCSA places significant importance on our function as industry advocates. We know Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visitors are vital for filling critical roles in tourism businesses, especially in our regions. We are pleased that, through the Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC), we’ve secured a commitment from the Federal Government that WHM visas will not be capped at 12months as was proposed in the Regional Migration strategy. Recently, we’ve been supporting one of our SME members in their efforts to seek an outcome to a local planning and development issue that is enormously impacting their business and the local environment. Please remember, we are always here to support you and be your voice.
Last month, we held a leadership luncheon with crossbenchers from the South Australian Parliament and co-hosted with RAA. It was great to hear various perspectives on the opportunity and value of tourism in a wide-ranging discussion. We also enjoyed meeting with members at our Tourism Round Ups in Robe and Mount Gambier. It is clear this winter has been tough for many businesses across the state, and for those in the Limestone Coast, the lowering of the water table resulting in several of the region’s iconic ponds being closed has presented a unique challenge. This month we invite you to join one of our Round Ups in the Adelaide Hills and Clare. Visit our events calendar for more information.
Finally, our newsletter this month provides some updates on Quality Tourism programs we deliver that assist you to adapt your business to meet the expectations and needs of visitors. Our monthly ‘What’s On’ newsletter with details for all our upcoming events and workshops will be landing in your inbox on Thursday.
Warm regards,
Cathy Ramsey
Acting CEO
Tourism Industry Council SA
