Tourist Connectivity

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (14:51): My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Can the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment please update the council on how a partnership between the SATC and Telstra is enriching the visitor experience and promoting South Australia through increased coverage and connectivity?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (14:51): I thank the honourable member for his question and his ongoing interest in connectivity and enriching South Australians' lives through tourism. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of spending a sunny and brisk autumn morning in beautiful Hahndorf, unveiling and testing the latest of 60 free wi-fi hotspots, which will serve in providing better coverage and connectivity to our valued visitors.

A partnership, as the honourable member mentioned in his question, between Telstra and the South Australian Tourism Commission means that soon tourists will have unlimited free data for one hour per day using their smart phone, mobile device or laptop in, importantly, some of our most iconic and remote locations. This is all through Telstra Air—Australia's largest wi-fi network.

Nine free wi-fi services have already been switched on in Hahndorf, Moana, Moonta Bay, Angaston, Beachport, Port MacDonnell, Victor Harbor, Tailem Bend and Kingscote, and another 51 spots are due to be rolled out in the coming months, including Wilpena Pound and Kangaroo Island, so there will be more than 60 in total. Increased connectivity will allow travellers to make the most of their time in South Australia, to find the best experiences from restaurants to wineries and to attractions, and to share their experiences in real time.

What is incredible is that they will often be doing this from our most remote locations, skyping home or posting on Instagram from the middle of the Flinders Ranges to their friends and families on the other side of the world. Not so long ago, a holiday meant sitting down with a travel agent to book a rather rigid itinerary, or setting off with a handful of recommendations from that well-travelled friend—well, not anymore.

Mobile-first connected travellers armed with a smart phone are more intrepid. They make plans as they go. They see more, learn more and share more. In the age of social media, we know just how much reach one post can have and, through boosting connectivity, we will allow every visitor to be an ambassador for our state and communicate that message as widely as possible.

We know that our visitors' appetite to get off the beaten track is growing. This is yet another step towards allowing tourists to step into our regions with confidence and communicate their experiences to the world. Each wi-fi hotspot will be marked with signage which includes details of how to log on. I noted yesterday that they also have some quick facts about the town or the region in which they are located, along with a WeChat QR code, which scans and provides our Chinese visitors with all the information they need to bring their journey together, linking them with key attractions and businesses.

The #SeeSouthAustralia hashtag also features on the signage—an important aspect of maximising the scope of our campaign to get people visiting our beautiful state. I am exceptionally proud of this partnership between the SATC and Telstra, a partnership which enriches our visitor experiences, helps to link them as consumers to local businesses and keeps them in touch with their family and friends.