FAMILY-FRIENDLY TOURISM

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:04): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Tourism a question about family-friendly tourism experiences.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: As the Minister for the Status of Women as well as the Minister for Tourism, I know that the minister is very keen to see families catered for when it comes to getting out and about in South Australia. Can the minister tell the chamber about a new family-oriented tourism experience funded by the South Australian Tourism Commission?

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) (15:05): I thank the honourable member for his important question. As the member has indicated, I believe that family-friendly tourism experiences are important, and I was delighted to be advised that a new family-friendly project, developed by the Barossa's Whistler Wines, has received a grant from the SATC.

Wine tasting can obviously be very enjoyable for adults, but there are often children there as part of a family outing and there can be tensions between sampling wine and appropriate entertainment for the children. A grant of $2,450 has been allocated from the SATC's new product support program to the Nuriootpa business, and I am told that Whistler Wines will use the grant to focus on developing child-friendly activities to encourage families to visit the Barossa.

I am advised that family has always been an integral part of Whistler Wines' history and in the development of the winery. The business will develop a treasure hunt walk and scavenger hunt for children, along with producing information to highlight family-friendly activities on site as well as across the region.

I understand that at present there are limited activities aimed at including children in the Barossa. Indeed, the need for family-friendly experiences was highlighted in the destination action plan for the region, the DAP for the Barossa region, which was launched in May this year. The Whistler Wines project will help address this shortfall and is expected to increase visitation to the property, which would be a great result.

I am pleased to advise that the SATC funding will be used for experience and website development, along with graphic design and communications. Of course, I hope that it will also help to promote premium food and wine from our clean environment because, as we all know, the Barossa obviously has a great deal to offer in this area. It is my belief that the Barossa is very well placed to cater to tourists seeking food and wine experiences. As many members already know, the Barossa is a very beautiful region and has some fabulous produce available.

As Minister for Tourism and for food and wine, I am very pleased that the South Australian Tourism Commission will again focus on other things that the Barossa has to offer. During 2012-13 the SATC will add another layer to the South Australia brand by reintroducing the Barossa to the domestic market. The Barossa is the most well-known region in South Australia. Relative to domestic wine regions, it is the second most considered wine region in Australia but fifth in terms of actual visitation.

This presents an opportunity to turn consideration into actual visitation. The Barossa has reinvented its brand, and the SATC will support the representation of this region to the domestic market—primarily Sydney and Melbourne—with a focus on food and flavours, in conjunction with the already well established wine association.