TOUR DOWN UNDER

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:52): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Tourism a question about Detours.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: We have all been aware of the recent, very unfortunate news that has shocked the world of cycling. However, it would be remiss of us to allow the Tour Down Under to be tarnished because of this. Can the minister tell the chamber about the new Detours initiative that has been developed for the 2013 Santos Tour Down Under?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (14:53): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I know that many people have indeed been extremely shocked, as I have, by the recent revelations which have rocked the cycling community and the broader public. As the honourable member says, the Tour Down Under is an iconic South Australian event and one which we should all be proud of.

This is a major event which is has been repeatedly singled out for awards and accolades. For example, the event won the Best Major Event or Festival at the Australian Tourism Awards in 2009 and 2010, and in 2011 was runner-up. In 2011, the tour was Australian Event of the Year at the Australian Event Awards 2011 and Best Tourism Event at the Australian Event Awards 2010, 2011 and 2012. The tour was also recognised as the Best Sporting Event at the Australian Event Awards 2012.

So, it is obvious that this is an event that we should continue to support and promote. The economic impact alone is a significant one for this state, and I have mentioned in this place that the economic benefit in 2012 of this event was $42 million, and it saw around 760 hundred thousand attendees—

The Hon. T.J. Stephens: '760 hundred thousand' is a lot of people.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I can see how impressed members are with these figures, figures that include more than 36,000 people who visited South Australia specifically for the tour. As wonderful as the tour is, it is important that events continue to grow and change and make sure they keep a high degree of interest, and that is why I am so delighted to be able to announce the new Detours initiative.

Detours is a new guide, aimed at promoting South Australia's regions and locations at each stage of the Santos Tour Down Under, and it will be released today in time for visitors to be able to plan their time around the race. Detours gives race fans—and those simply keen to embrace all that South Australia has to offer at this international event—the chance to explore a range of diverse attractions around each stage of the route.

As members would know, the Santos Tour Down Under takes in some of our state's most spectacular regions, each of which has an array of things to see and do, in particular the state's premier food and wine. The World Detours Down Under highlights key food and wine experiences along each race route stage. This new program plans to act as an incentive to entice all family members—there will be something there for everyone—to accompany the cycling fan and to bring their family and attract a much broader audience.

As an example, World Detours Down Under attractions selected for the People's Choice Classic in Adelaide's East End include the Adelaide Central Market, JamFactory studios, the River Torrens, the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and our wonderful museum. During race stages in the Adelaide Hills, the Barossa and Fleurieu Peninsula, cycling supporters will be encouraged to discover the region's fantastic wineries and artisan products, and there are also some lovely galleries there.

The World Detours Down Under program will be available online at the event website and is being promoted through a series of advertisements and editorial within non-traditional cycling media publications such as Rolling Stone, My Money, Australian Gourmet Traveller and the Australian Financial Review, to name just a few. The award-winning Santos Tour Down Under will be held from 20 to 27 January and next year celebrates its 15^th year anniversary.