The state government has announced a third round of Great State Vouchers targeted to accommodation to stimulate occupancy rates going into the colder months.

This follows the Great State Experiences Voucher scheme earlier this month, which includes many Fleurieu-based activities.

Figures from global hotel data analytics firm STR show that from January to March this year, regional accommodation in SA enjoyed its best three-month period yet, with the highest average occupancy, room nights stayed, and revenue ever recorded. 

For the month of March, hotels in the CBD hit the highest average occupancy for a month since the pandemic began and the highest occupancy of any mainland Australian capital city.

The record-breaking data coincides with the travel period of the previous round of Great State Vouchers targeted to accommodation, which – combined with round one – created over 62,000 room night bookings and a flow-on of more than $32 million spent in the state’s visitor economy.

It also comes as Adelaide was confirmed as having the 15th highest hotel occupancy in the world in March 2021 – from data analysed across 180 countries.

Premier Steven Marshall says that more accommodation vouchers worth up to $100 will stimulate travel across the state during the traditionally off-peak winter period – and in particular attract people into the city for mid-week staycations.

“The data is proof that this targeted stimulus through the Great State Voucher program is incredibly effective – it injects visitors and dollars directly into South Australian businesses and it sustains and creates jobs,” he says.

“The timing of the next round of accommodation vouchers couldn’t be better, we know April is a busy time with Easter, school holidays and the Anzac Day long weekend – and we’re keeping that momentum going through the winter months, with more vouchers for overnight stays, in addition to our experiences vouchers.

“We saw a huge response to the Great State Experiences Voucher scheme, with a total of 100,034 registrations for the ballot over the three days, including over 4500 from interstate.

“There are now around 50,000 vouchers out there, ready to be used to book tours and experiences from tomorrow. That’s tens of thousands of South Australian trips that otherwise wouldn’t have been taken – including from our state’s two largest interstate markets, which we know spend three times as much as intrastate.

“That is visitation and revenue created for hundreds of small businesses which make up an important sector of our visitor economy.”

The next round of Great State Vouchers targeting accommodation will launch in late May for travel through the winter.

It will work like previous rounds for accommodation, with $50 off participating accommodation providers in regional South Australia and suburban Adelaide, and $100 off hotels in the CBD and North Adelaide. 

Consumers can expect to see new additions such as ‘mid-week treats’ or special deals to incentivise Sunday to Thursday night bookings in the CBD.

South Australian Tourism Commission chief executive Rodney Harrex says the agency had continued to listen and respond to industry and consumer feedback through each iteration of the voucher program.

“Each time we run the program, we’ve tweaked it to streamline the process for operators and make it easier for consumers. At the end of the day, we want people out exploring regions or heading into the city, spending money in hotels and restaurants, having a night or two away – it all drives the state’s visitor economy, and keeps people in jobs,” 

More details about the new round of Great State Vouchers for accommodation will be released following the completion of an Expressions of Interest for operators to participate.