In its third and final round, the River Revival Voucher program, generated an estimated $1.7 million in economic impact for the state’s Riverland and Murray River, Lakes and Coorong regions, bringing the program's total economic impact to an estimated $12.4 million.
The third round saw more than 1400 bookings made across over 120 accommodation, experience, houseboat, and guided tour providers – with the February to June travel period helping boost visitation and expenditure beyond the peak summer season.
Analysis of the economic impact data showed that for every dollar of State Government investment across the three rounds more than $5 was returned to the regions.
The State Government surveyed those who redeemed a voucher in the third round, with results showing those with a $750 houseboat and guided tour voucher spent an average of $2666 on top of the value of the voucher.
The houseboat voucher was also successful in its aim to increase length of travel, with all visiting with this voucher type spending at least three nights in the Murray River regions.
The survey also found those who used the most popular $200 accommodation voucher spent an average of $750 on top of the value of the voucher – further supporting operators of tours and activities, food and beverage, produce, entertainment and more.
The third round continued to trigger visitation that would not have occurred otherwise in the Murray River regions, while raising awareness of the tourism experiences available.
More than 70 per cent of voucher users in round three had not intended to take a trip to the Murray River regions, while almost half of voucher users were unaware of their chosen tourism operator prior to the program.
Almost all voucher users are ‘likely or ‘very likely’ to recommend doing something similar without a voucher in future, helping to drive awareness of the diverse tourism products in the Murray River regions.
Latest Tourism Research Australia data shows in the year to March 2024, visitor spend in the Riverland and Murray River, Lakes and Coorong regions reached a combined $501 million – up on the $441 million spent in the year to December 2022, prior to the real impacts of the flooding event.
The voucher program was part of the State Government’s $4.6 million river tourism recovery package, which aimed to stimulate visitation and expenditure in communities impacted by the once-in-a-century flooding event.
Renmark Houseboats owner Leanne Glazbrook said the third round of vouchers boosted bookings during the normally quieter months of April, May and June.
"What the vouchers did was bring different people into the region to discover a houseboat holiday, which is not only a great benefit to us, but also the many little businesses who rely on that visitation," Ms Glazbrook said.
"After staying a few nights on our houseboats, many voucher guests said they were planning to return with more family and friends because they loved their time with us so much – and we are already seeing return bookings come through because of it. Generating that word of mouth is so important for us and our local community.
"As a voucher user myself, I know firsthand that the initiative made people stop and stay in towns that they would normally just drive through - and spend a bit while they’re at it."
Want some inspiration on where to explore next in South Australia, visit the South Australian Tourism Commission.
