THE Barossa’s peak tourism body has praised a State Government program offering grants to private investors to grow the industry as it emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Premier Steven Marshall announced on Sunday the $20 million Tourism Industry Development Fund grant scheme for the tourism industry to implement strategies to draw visitors to the state’s regions.
Operators will be eligible for between $20,000 and $500,000 to improve their accommodation, introduce new tourism products and create new experiences.
Tourism Barossa regional tourism manager Cathy Wills hoped Barossa businesses would jump at the chance to submit an application.
“We hope the Barossa enthusiastically welcomes this grant funding and we would love to see businesses in our region over indexing with the number of applications and the number of successful grants,” she said.
“This is another example of timely grant funding being delivered.
“Without the ongoing stimulus and economic support from all levels of government, the tourism sector would be facing exceedingly difficult times.”
The new fund is set to run for the next two years and is limited to private sector businesses.
Investors will be eligible for up to 30 per cent of the total project’s value in State Government funding and successful projects must start within three months of the application being accepted.
Mr Marshall said the tourism industry had been one of the “hardest hit” during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We want to ensure that regional tourism businesses are supported to improve and diversify their offering so they can remain sustainable, increase visitor demand, and have visitors linger for longer,” he said.
“Regional tourism is playing a major role in rebuilding our state’s visitor economy and creating local jobs.
“We already know 43 cents in every tourism dollar is spent in our regions and early indications show this fund will create around 1400 ongoing direct tourism jobs.
“One of the key strategic priorities identified across all regions for growing the visitor economy in our state, is improved accommodation, product and experiences.
“That’s exactly what the Marshall Government is doing, while getting shovels in the ground faster and more South Australians back into jobs.”
Following the grant scheme’s announcement, the state opposition have attacked it, saying it would fail to support small businesses.
Opposition trade spokesperson Zoe Bettison said small operators would be unable to raise the funds to start a project with the lowest grant amount, $20,000, having to be 30 per cent of the overall spend.
“The vast majority of tourism operators are simply trying to survive,” she said. “They need immediate support.
“The Government’s Development Fund, while welcome, may not be easily accessible for smaller businesses.”