South Australia's tourist economy has surged with hotel bookings strong and interstate spending above pre-COVID-19 levels.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Latest figures show interstate tourists spent $315 million in May, the highest monthly result since the start of the pandemic.
Intrastate spending in May was also up nine per cent on pre-COVID-19 levels to $175 million.
"The data shows our state is tracking back to its once $8.1 billion visitor economy," Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said.
"To have the best result for interstate expenditure since the pandemic began is a wonderful indicator that recovery is on the right path."
Forward hotel bookings across the next three months are also strong, with average occupancy rates sitting at around 43 per cent.
Australian Hotels Association SA general manager Ian Horne said the strong figures came after many people delayed their holidays early in 2022 as the Omicron wave of COVID-19 took hold.
"So it is terrific to see that has now translated into a strong middle part of the year with post-pandemic record forward bookings and interstate expenditure as confidence to travel and book ahead continues to grow," he said.
Australian Associated Press
