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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-05-14 Daily Xml
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Ministerial Statement

South Australian Tourism Commission

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Recreation and Sport, Minister for Racing) (14:05): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The SPEAKER: Leave is granted to the minister, who is dressed in a somewhat agricultural manner today.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I am off to Mount Gambier this afternoon, sir.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I love getting out in the regions, Tim. Today I am pleased to announce the appointment of Sean Keenihan as Chair of the South Australian Tourism Commission Board. Mr Keenihan brings a wealth of international engagement experience at a very important time for tourism in South Australia. He is the national Vice President of the Australia China Business Council, South Australian President of the Australia China Business Council and Chairman at Norman Waterhouse Lawyers. He is also the state government's Strategic Adviser on China and worked closely with the government on developing the Premier's economic priorities.

As well as building on our existing markets, tapping into the Chinese visitor market is absolutely critical to the ongoing growth in our regions. In the 12 months to September last year, Chinese visitor numbers were up 13 per cent to 31,000. We are on track to reach our goal of 57,000 Chinese visitors each year by 2020. Importantly, they are the highest spending of all our international visitors. The state government's goal for the visitor economy is to grow it from $5.2 billion a year to $8 billion by 2020. This increase would create a further 10,000 jobs throughout the state in the tourism sector. Mr Keenihan's focus will be on the international competitiveness of our tourism sector and creating these jobs.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the former chair, Jane Jeffreys, for her tireless commitment to the SATC Board. Ms Jeffreys had been the chair since October 2011. She will remain on the board in the role of director. I look forward to her continuing commitment and dedication to the state's tourism industry.

In addition to Mr Keenihan's appointment, South Australian Motor Sport Board chair, Andy Ford, has been appointed as an SATC Board member effective from 1 July. Mr Ford has been on the Motor Sport Board for 14 years and is an ideal choice to help with the transition of motorsport events into the SATC.

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