REGIONAL TOURISM

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:51): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations, representing the Minister for Tourism, questions about regional tourism.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Three weeks ago, the Northern Argus highlighted the possibility of the withdrawal of regional marketing managers employed by the SA Tourism Commission in the release of a draft regional growth plan for tourism. Reported in the Northern Argus on 16 February, the CEO of Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council said that the stakeholders were also concerned that there was no evidence of a transition plan for the regional tourism marketing staff. On Tuesday 22 February, the tourism council's Roy Tilbrook said on ABC radio:

Nobody knows what is better for the development of tourism in the region than the people on the ground in the region.

On 2 March 2011, the Northern Argus reported that the state tourism Chief Executive mentioned that the SATC will not reduce funding in regional tourism. However, there was no comment about future positions of regional marketing managers. My questions are:

1. With the increased concern from the state Tourism Industry Council, can the minister confirm whether the government's new regional marketing plan will remove local expertise from country areas and how many regional jobs will be lost in this plan?

2. The Northern Argus stated that 'the draft plan also flagged the abolition of regional tourism marketing boards and regions would be left to their own devices to establish incorporated associations or other means for formalising their activities'. Can the minister explain what that means for the tourism industry in that region, and when does the government propose to communicate the actual structural changes to tourism stakeholders?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises) (14:53): As minister for regional affairs, I have some information in relation to the questions asked and, obviously, I will refer those other matters to the Minister for Tourism in another place. However, in relation to work that is currently being done in relation to the regional growth plan, I understand that the South Australian Tourism Commission has been consulting parties in various stages in setting the regional growth plan, and that includes things like the local government in regions, regional tourism committees and also industry bodies such as the LGA, Regional Development Australia and SA Tourism Industry Council.

I understand that the consultations to date have included things like a two-day regional growth plan workshop with funding stakeholders and an online survey, and I am advised that 75 per cent of participants submitted their survey. I have also been advised that a background paper was developed and distributed which covered the current state of our regional tourism structure and funding, and an overview of findings from previous regional reviews' progress towards our $3.6 billion SASP target, which is about increasing visitor expenditure in South Australian tourism from $3.7 billion in 2002 to $6.3 billion in 2014. It works to address that target.

I have also been advised that other consultations included an overview of other Australian states' regional tourism structures, in-region meetings and discussions and a two-day workshop with regional tourism managers and regional chairpersons, as well as the SA Tourism Industry Council, for parts of those two days. I am also advised that, following the regional workshops and meetings, a draft framework was developed and distributed to key parties for comment.

A draft regional tourism growth plan has now been circulated, and the SATC is awaiting further comments by the end of February 2011. Obviously, interested stakeholders are encouraged to contribute to that final plan. I understand that the next step is to have in-region presentations to funding partners, and this will include developing a customised approach for each region. As I have said, that is the information I have been advised of. In relation to the other elements of the question, I will refer to those to the Minister for Tourism in another place and bring back a reply.