A Fleurieu-based aeronautic business is one of 12 to receive the latest state government Tourism Industry Development Fund grants.

Adelaide Biplanes operates out of Aldinga airfield and will develop a new scenic flight experience.

The grant will contribute $28,517 towards the $95,000 project, which includes upgrading a 1940 De Havilland Tiger Moth plane and a 2004 American Champion Super Decathlon plane.

It brings the total number of projects funded under the program to 42, with a combined value of $25 million – spread across all 11 of South Australia’s tourism regions.

Premier Steven Marshall says the TIDF is giving regional economies a real boost, creating nearly 700 jobs to date.

“One of the key aims of the TIDF is to create new jobs and develop skills and with project applications flooding into the SATC, this number will continue to rise,” Premier Marshall says.

“We know from the latest Tourism Research Australia data that January 2021 has been the best month since the pandemic began. Visits, nights and expenditure were the highest for a month since March 2020.

“These results are on the back of a strong intrastate market and recovering interstate market so it’s great that we’ve got a pipeline of new and exciting experiences to keep visitors coming back to our regions.

“All of our 42 TIDF projects will give visitors a multitude of reasons to travel to South Australia and our regions to boost our economy.”

Martyn Smith, managing director and owner of Adelaide Biplanes, says the grant will help them invest in offering the most awesome flying experiences imaginable.

“Like every other tourism operator out there, once international and interstate borders closed, we lost almost all of our customers overnight which was absolutely devastating,” Mr Smith says.

“With an inevitable slow return for the aviation industry we have fought hard as a family to keep our passion alive to share with others into the future.

“This will help us continue to offer the most beautiful, awe-inspiring and unique vintage experiences to local, interstate and international visitors to the Fleurieu Peninsula. We are excited for the future ahead!”

The $20 million fund runs until 31 March 2022 or until all funds have been allocated. For more information about the grants visit the TIDF website. 

Image by alpalm from Pixabay