INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS

Ms FOX (Bright) (14:16): My question is to the Minister for Tourism. Can the minister inform the house about the current state of international tourism in South Australia?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Urban Development, Planning and the City of Adelaide, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Food Marketing) (14:16): We are actually in a position where there is some very good news for South Australia in relation to international tourists visiting this state. It needs to be seen against the backdrop of an increasing Australian dollar, which obviously means that for people to come here is even more difficult than it has been in the past, because they obviously—particularly if they are working in American dollars—are finding it a more expensive exercise.

Nevertheless, in spite of that, there is strong growth in tourism in South Australia. In the 12 months to March this year, we attracted 768,000 international visitors, which is a 2 per cent growth. Over this period, international visitors spent 8.5 million nights in our state, which is a 5 per cent growth, compared with a 3.2 per cent national growth. The international visitors generated expenditure of—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: The international visitors generated expenditure of $741 million, which is a 10.6 per cent growth, compared with only 3.1 per cent nationally. The fact is that international visitors to South Australia are now staying longer and spending more per day.

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: The member for Finniss would be delighted to know that Kangaroo Island—and I know the member for Bragg also—

Ms Chapman: Is popping up in the figures.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: —is popping up in the figures. In fact, Kangaroo Island is very well known in Europe and the United States. Members might be interested to know that I have done a bit of field research on this. I was there with my children during the school holidays, not far from where the member for Bragg has her connections with the island. We were on a beach and there were tourists from Italy there, who were all over the beach and were interested in talking to me because my son was wearing an Italian soccer shirt. Anyway, that is by the bye. The fact is there are a lot of people—particularly, strangely enough, Italian honeymooners. I think the member for Finniss is aware of that.

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: Full of Italian honeymooners.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Full of Italian honeymooners in Kangaroo Island. This is obviously a big drawcard for South Australia. Can I say that this government values Kangaroo Island greatly as a tourism asset and is looking forward to working constructively with the member for Finniss and the member for Bragg on ways to actually improve the facilities on the island and improve the draw of international tourists to the island. But the good news is they all know it is there. The good news is also that a great deal of them wish to go there. In fact, international visitations to Kangaroo Island increased to 42,000, which is up about 20 per cent. So, the people involved in tourism on KI are doing something very well—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: —as is the South Australian—

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: The member for Norwood is an expert on KI, too.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: He is an expert on many things. I have to compliment people at the Tourist Commission, because their focus on marketing, particularly marketing Kangaroo Island, is obviously doing some good, and it is showing up in the figures. Interestingly enough, visitation to the Fleurieu Peninsula—again, the member for Finniss, I know that is part of his bailiwick, and the member for Mawson, I know, is very interested in that part of the world—visitor numbers are up 9.3 per cent. So, you are doing well.

The Hon. K.O. Foley: What about Port Adelaide?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Port Adelaide does not appear on my list at the moment, but I will look into that for the member. The member for Schubert might be interested to know that those visiting the Barossa are up 4.1 per cent to 12,800 international visitors. Now, you are not quite up with the member for Finniss yet, but, if you keep trying and you follow his lead, I think you will be able to improve things in the Barossa Valley. Of course, Madam Speaker, we are doing what we can to make the Fleurieu and the Barossa more attractive places—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Ms Chapman: Like Ivan in budgie smugglers.

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Bragg, you are on your second warning. Minister.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Yes, thank you—

Mr Goldsworthy interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Kavel!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Madam Speaker, we are trying to assist people, particularly in the Barossa Valley and the Fleurieu Peninsula also by the measure we have announced recently of a protection zone to make sure that those important parts of our state are not encroached upon by urban sprawl. That is something I know the member for Schubert is feeling more and more strongly about. The member for Mawson has been feeling strongly about it for some time.

There is a welling up of enthusiasm for this, and the member for Schubert might be interested to know that we met the other day with a couple of mayors from his part of the world, and they said they felt pretty confident that you would be on the same page as them because they were very enthusiastic about it—extremely enthusiastic about it—and said that they were going to be talking to you along those lines. But I know they do not have to, because you are enthusiastic about it anyway, as is the member for Mawson.

So, it is all good news, Madam Speaker. We are protecting those areas. More tourists are going there. They are coming from overseas. Kangaroo Island is getting greater notoriety. We are on an upward trend.