SA's River Revival Voucher program a massive success
SA's river revival voucher program was a huge success in restoring investments and interest into flood affected communities, the state government says.
This story was contributed by Alexandra White.
Over the three rounds of the river revival program an estimated $12.4 million has been pushed out into communities and businesses in SA’s Murray River Regions, including the Riverland, Murray River, Lakes and Coorong regions.
In the third round more than 1400 bookings were made across guided tour, experience, houseboat and accommodation providers.
An analysis of the state government investment revealed that for every dollar invested more than $5 was returned to these communities.
Not only did this prompt visitation but it also encouraged voucher users to recommend these tourism experiences to others.
From the year to March 2024 a combined sum of $501 million over the Riverland, Murray River, Lakes and Coorong regions was seen spent by visitors of these regions.
That was an increase of $60 million spent the year prior to the flooding event.
“To inject an estimated $12.4 million into our flood affected Murray River regions is an extraordinary outcome of the river revival voucher program,” said Zoe Bettison, Minister for Tourism.
“The river remains an important area of focus, and I am thrilled to see tourism spend not just recover, but grow across our Riverland and Murray River, Lakes and Coorong regions.”
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