The State Government is investing in a variety of successful and emerging regional events and festivals through an annual grants program designed to further drive the $6.8 billion visitor economy.

The grants, which will contribute to event delivery and marketing, will assist food and wine, cultural, artistic and sporting events and reinforce the Government’s commitment to supporting the state’s 18,000 hardworking and passionate local tourism operators.

30 recipients of the 2019-20 Regional Events and Festivals Program (REFP) and the Community Events Development Fund (CEDF) have been announced.

Congratulations to Eyre Peninsula’s successful grant recipients; Ceduna Oysterfest, Tunarama, Rodeo by the Sea and Teakle Autosprint.

“We are delighted to be able to support and encourage some of our fantastic regional events and festivals which not only create enormous excitement and goodwill in a community but generate significant flow-on economic benefit and potential jobs growth,’’ said Minister Ridgway.

“Tourism is a vital economic driver for regional South Australia. The regions account for a quarter of the state’s population but generate nearly half of SA’s tourism expenditure.

“We want to encourage more South Australians and interstate and international visitors to get out and about and experience the very best that SA has to offer, spending time and money in our regions and growing our tourism sector.

“Events and festivals are a wonderful way to enhance the tourism offering of a particular region and ensure positive economic benefit for local restaurants, motels, cafes and small retailers.”

The grants build on the Government’s significant investment in tourism – with the 2019-20 State Budget committing $43 million for international and domestic marketing of South Australia.

For more information visit www.tourism.sa.gov.au

Applications for the 2020-21 funding round will open in January 2020.