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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-11-15 Daily Xml
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SA Tourism Awards

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:28): I am delighted to rise today to speak about the 2017 SA Tourism Awards. It was a great privilege to join the shadow minister for tourism, my esteemed colleague the Hon. David Ridgway, at the 33rd South Australian Tourism Awards gala dinner on 10 November at the Adelaide Convention Centre. It was a spectacular evening that attracted a strong crowd of some 860 people. It was a pleasure to sit next to Mr Shaun de Bruyn, Chief Executive Officer of the SA Tourism Industry Council. Congratulations to board members, management and staff of SATC and SATIC on their incredible commitment and contribution to building and advancing the South Australian tourism sector.

The tourism awards certainly brought back fond memories as I recall my time working at the SA Tourism Commission in the late 1980s and early 1990s. My work experience in this sector allowed me to develop a deep appreciation of the incredible opportunities and significant contributions made by our tourism industry.

The South Australian tourism sector is an exciting industry and a major contributor to our state's economy. The value of tourism in South Australia currently stands at $6.3 billion, with a total of 18,000 tourism businesses that employ 36,700 people, many of whom are young people and people from diverse backgrounds. The industry is providing employment opportunities in metropolitan and regional South Australia.

There was a total of 33 tourism award categories this year, which celebrate and acknowledge outstanding tourism businesses in South Australia. Well done to all the judges who had to make tough decisions in choosing winners. Finalists and winners are from all regions of South Australia, and they all demonstrated great passion, innovation and hard work to showcase the best tourism products and services South Australia has to offer.

Today, I would like to put on the record my heartfelt congratulations to all the South Australian tourism award winners. First up, Hahndorf Resort Tourist Park is the proud winner of the Premier's Award for Service Excellence. I have had the pleasure of knowing Brian and Lynn Schirripa for many years now. They are the most generous and delightful people, and their family has lived and worked in the Adelaide Hills for over 36 years. It is an outstanding achievement by the family in successfully managing the Hahndorf Resort Tourist Park. A well-deserved award. The other exceptional award winners were:

in the category of major tourist attractions, Adelaide Zoo, which is also the winner of the RAA People's Choice Tourism Award, a new category added this year;

in the category of tourist attractions, Calypso Star Charters;

in the major festivals and events category, Santos Tour Down Under;

in the category of festivals and events, Sounds by the River;

the ecotourism category award was won by Murray River Walk;

the South Australian Museum won the cultural tourism category award;

the Qantas Award for Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism was won by Aboriginal Cultural Tours SA;

in the specialised tourism services category, Proud Mary;

in the category of visitor information services, Clare Valley Wine, Food and Tourism Centre;

in the business event venues category, Adelaide Hills Convention Centre;

in the category of major tour and transport operators, Wrightsair was the deserving winner;

the tour and transport operators category award went to Adelaide Haunted Horizons—that would be pretty scary for me to do, but one day I might;

in the category of adventure tourism, Calypso Star Charters;

Destination Riverland won the destination marketing category, which the member for Chaffey will be very happy to hear;

in the category of tourism restaurants and catering services, The Tasting Room, Mayura Station;

Dudley Wines was the winner in the category of tourism wineries, distilleries and breweries;

Hahndorf Resort Tourist Park, again, was the winner in the caravan and holiday parks category;

Mulberry Lodge Country Retreat won the award in the hosted accommodation category;

Griffen's Marina at Blanchetown won the award of unique accommodation;

The Frames at Paringa won the award for self-contained accommodation—

Time expired.

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