TOURISM EVENTS

Mr BIGNELL (Mawson) (14:15): My question is to the Minister for Tourism. What is the state government doing to ensure that the maximum economic benefits are being realised from its investment in events?

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH (Adelaide—Minister for Education and Children's Services, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (14:16): I thank the member for Mawson for his question. I realise that he has a very keen interest in tourism events and is a great supporter of and participant in many of our mass participation events.

South Australia has been very successful at both winning and hosting events in recent times, and this has been a direct reflection of the state government's intent to look at our calendar of events and make sure that, throughout the year, it is full of and represented by activities and tourism attractions. Indeed, since coming into office, we have really focused on delivering significant economic and social benefits, as well as increasing media exposure through our events.

In addition, we have revitalised the events calendar by making some of our successful biennial events annual events, and this has had a huge impact, with events such as WOMAD and the Fringe now being very successful and occurring on an annual basis.

We have also enhanced the status of the Tour Down Under by making it a Pro Tour event, which has increased the number of visitors coming from interstate and overseas. We have supported the growth of those iconic events—the Festival of the Arts and the Clipsal 500—and they are now bigger and better than ever before.

We have also invested in new events that have brought tourists outside the traditional busy summer months, and we have expanded them annually, and the Rugby Sevens is getting bigger and more popular each year. The International Guitar Festival is a great event later on in the year (just before Christmas), as well as the OzAsia Festival. We are particularly keen on and looking forward to January next year, when we will host our first World Tennis Challenge.

In addition, we regularly review the calendar to make sure that the events occur at the right time—the optimum time—to provide the maximum return on investment by the state. From time to time, this review of events means that the dates alter, and I know that that is inconvenient to the member opposite because he likes to book in his recreational activities a year in advance. In reality, the calendar is designed so that the events are at the best time and have the best impact for the state of South Australia, not just for the members in this chamber who like to attend events.

After careful consideration, a decision has been made to hold the next Tasting Australia event at a different time from that which was previously scheduled. It will now be held from 6 to 13 May 2010, rather than in September 2009. For the first time, visiting media, food and drink professionals coming to the state will be able to enjoy the state during our vintage period, the vintage time for wineries.

Over the past six events, Tasting Australia has shown the world's food, wine and beer lovers that Adelaide and South Australia is the home of the best food and wine, as well as beer, and we expect that focus to continue. The major feature of the 2010 event, unlike former years, will be a focus on South Australia's local heroes. I will not give away the secret of those events, but some of you might like to ponder and imagine who the iconic providers of food, wine and gastronomic experiences will be. Those icons and heroes will be part of the event, together with producers, chefs, writers and educators. They have already raised the bar in gastronomic excellence, and I hope the member for Finniss will put those dates in his diary, because I know that he likes to plan ahead. The change of date will revitalise our successful and much loved South Australian Tasting Australia event. It means that we have a proven tourism drawcard to boost hotel occupancy when it is most needed and a wonderful opportunity to show off the best at vintage time.