The Tourism & Transport Forum Australia (TTF) has welcomed the passage of legislation in the South Australian Parliament that sees the preservation of the South Australian Tourism Commission Board (SATC).

The Boards and Committee – Abolition Bill 2015 had originally sought to abolish the SATC board, but was successfully amended after a strong advocacy campaign by TTF.

“The preservation of the SATC is a win for common sense and a win for the South Australian tourism industry in general,” TTF CEO Margy Osmond said today.

“The SATC plays an important role in delivering marketing, events and development programs to support growth in South Australia’s tourism industry.

“The presence of an independent tourism board also provides certainty to tourism investors that marketing funding is being spent effectively to drive visitation.

“Abolishing the SATC would have not only removed an important layer of accountability and advice, it also would have had a negative impact on South Australia’s tourism marketing campaigns.

“I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the SA opposition and crossbenchers in helping to secure the amendment to save the SATC.

“I also congratulate the Weatherill Government for seeing the merits of maintaining of the SATC. The job now for the government is to reverse the steady decline in the SATC’s budget and boost the agency’s funding in the upcoming budget.

“Tourism is a significant part of the South Australian economy, sustaining 54,000 jobs and contributing $6.3 billion in economic consumption every year.

“It is vital governments invest in tourism; not introduce policies that hinder the industry’s growth,” she said.