Tourism
A sophisticated, cosmopolitan city of 1.1 million people, Adelaide is one of the best-planned cities in the world, with wide streets and a green belt of parklands encircling the entire City, which provides easy access to all of its major attractions.
It shares its enviable lifestyle with an increasing number of visitors every year who remark on its elegant buildings, galleries, excellent value shopping and dining - and the simple pleasures of exploring the gardens and grand boulevards on foot.
Adelaide also successfully blends business with pleasure - thanks to the ease in which conference or exhibition delegates can move between their meetings, accommodation and amenities.
The City provides a focus for the ‘good living’ tourism experience with which South Australia is so closely associated. The food and wine experience starts right in the City centre with streets filled with lively pubs, cafes and restaurants boasting some of Australia’s best chefs located in five distinct restaurant precincts.
Adelaide is the centre of South Australia's booming wine industry - with the closest vineyard barely a cork toss from the city centre. The National Wine Centre is both home to the nation’s peak wine bodies and a showcase for Australia's wine industry, including a wine-tasting gallery, an interactive exhibit that covers all aspects of winemaking and a working vineyard.
South Australia’s hotels, restaurants and cafes generate around $1 billion in economic activity each year, about a third of it derived from the City which has more than 4,000 hotel rooms. The City reputedly has more restaurants per capita than any other Australian city.
The City’s tourism sector has grown over the past decade at an average annual rate of 7 per cent, well above the State average of 4.9 per cent across all industries. Continued growth is expected in line with greater population growth and increased visitors from interstate and overseas.
International passenger movements at Adelaide Airport, now rated one of the best in Australia, increased by 27% in the 12 months to June 2007 – the highest increase among Australia’s major airports. With nearly 30 international flights per week arriving at Adelaide Airport, international carriers are showing their confidence in South Australia as a premier tourist, business and education destination
In parallel to leisure tourism, Adelaide Convention Tourism Authority Chief Executive Martin Winter says Adelaide has a strong reputation amongst business travellers as ‘the perfect meetings city’.
“In 2006, Adelaide ranked 3rd for international conferences in Oceania and 56th globally - up 47 places from 2005, outperforming New York, Moscow, Frankfurt and Los Angeles," Mr Winter said.
Fast Facts
● Fast growing industry sector
● Business travelers increasing market
● International conference destination focus
Links
● ACTA
● SA Tourism Commission