The SA Tourism Commission says the Fleurieu Peninsula has been among the top choices for people using Great State vouchers, with McCracken Country Club at Victor Harbor a popular pick.

A $19 million injection into South Australia’s visitor economy has led to a record-breaking summer for the local tourism industry, according to the state government.

The booking period for the second round of the Great State voucher (GSV) scheme wrapped on 31 January, generating more than 36,000 bookings – and attracting over 1.1 million product views through the southaustralia.com website.

Already more than 10,000 check-ins have been made – people staying overnight, spending in and exploring the areas nearby, since 7 January.

Premier Steven Marshall has thanked South Australians for embracing the second round of the scheme and spending big in the CBD and regions.

“Thank you to everyone in South Australia - from those who booked a night in our great state, to our incredible tourism operators – you have all helped to create a record-breaking summer,” Premier Marshall says.

“Across round one and two of the vouchers, we’ve created more than 60,000 bookings, worth more than $31 million – getting people booking up the CBD and regions, and spending in our restaurants, cafes, bars and experiences around them.

“We will now take away any lessons we have learnt from the second round of GSV, talk to the industry and gear up for a round three.”

South Australian Tourism Commission chief executive Rodney Harrex says he was thrilled at how well round two of the GSV went, with South Australia breaking tourism records in the regions.

“We have seen record occupancy, with some of the highest occupancy levels in 12 months in regional SA. 

Figures provided for December 2020 show occupancy in regional South Australia reached 60 per cent – the highest December on record, and an increase on December 2019 (55 per cent).

“It’s been very pleasing to see Great State Voucher bookings were snapped up across all 11 regions, with the Adelaide Hills, Barossa and Fleurieu Peninsula the most popular,” Mr Harrex says.

The Oval Hotel, Crowne Plaza Adelaide, InterContinental, Mayfair Hotel, Ibis Adelaide and Hilton Adelaide were among the top CBD properties, with the Stamford Grand at Glenelg, Discovery Parks Barossa, Novotel Barossa, Manna by Haus in the Adelaide Hills, and McCracken Country Club at Victor Harbor the most popular regional accommodation.