The South Australian government has unveiled a new voucher scheme as part of a $4.6-million recovery plan encouraging people across the state to support flood-affected Murray River communities.
Key points:
- $4.6 million has been directed towards reinvigorating tourism in river communities which were affected by flood waters
- Half a million has been set aside for towns still cleaning up, such as those in the Mid-Murray
- Tourism operators in the region have welcome the state government’s assistance
The plan includes more than 25,000 vouchers for SA residents to use on accommodation and tourism experiences to help operators recoup losses.
It is the biggest tourism voucher scheme dedicated to a specific region in the state’s history.
The $50, $100 and $200 vouchers will be released by ballot in three rounds, with the first round starting next month.
A $750 houseboat hire voucher will also be launched later in this year.
A further $500,000 has been set aside for towns still heavily occupied with clean-up, such as those in the Mid-Murray.
Riverland canoe hire and accommodation owner Ruth Roberts said the announcement had taken a weight off her shoulders, as her business was struggling.
“It’s been a really disastrous season — great for the river, but we haven’t been able to do business for many months now,” Ms Roberts said.
“The only thing that kept us going was school camps, which is not tourism, and ran up until November last year.”
Lingering concerns
Despite the good news, Ms Roberts said there were still questions that needed answering over the logistics and number of vouchers.
“There’s been a lot of accommodation places we’ve been competing with, but people wanting to get back onto the river will help a lot,” she said.
Ms Roberts said she was worried there would be an ongoing negative impact for tourism, even after the danger had passed.
“After the fires in the Adelaide Hills, people got it into their heads and didn’t go back,” she said.
“I fear the same will happen for the river.”
Nonetheless, she saw the support as vital.
“We desperately needed this investment. I was lucky to get the early closure grant and I spent the whole $10,000 on refunds,” Ms Roberts said.
“The bills are still coming in but we haven’t had any income for some time now.”
Winter an important period
Destination Riverland general manger Pamela Canavan said she was pleased to see the promised support arrive and for the rollout to be staggered.
“As we’ve seen the peak making it’s way down the river, people were impacted at different times,” she said.
“Not everyone will be ready for the first stage, so by delaying the rollout, everyone will be covered.”
Ms Canavan said the upcoming winter period would be important for houseboat operators in particular.
“They’ve had the quietest summer they’ve ever had,” she said.
“They can’t afford to have a quiet winter as well.”
Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said the voucher scheme was similar to other stimulus campaigns rolled out following the Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island bushfires.
She said the Riverland was important to the state’s economy.
“Prior to COVID, the Riverland tourism sector was responsible for $436 million worth of visitor expenditure … employing 2,800 people,” she said.
“It’s about South Australians supporting our river regions for the rest of this year.”
