3 minute read
Global Ideas To Set Fire To Winter In SA
from Hotel SA July 2024
by Boylen
The AHA|SA presented a detailed submission to Treasury ahead of this year’s State budget, advocating for new funds to be invested to increase our winter tourism numbers. Listening to the AHA’s concerns, the Treasurer announced $14m over four years to expand the business events fund to focus on conferences during that traditional down time. Conferences should be the key driver for this State during winter. However, there is no reason events can't continue to create new reasons for tourists to visit us during the winter months.
Let’s look at some of the great success stories around the world.
CLOSE TO HOME - TASMANIA
Dark Mofo returns in 2025. It’s a time of winter feasts, a nude solstice swims at dawn, and light, art and music.
The ABC reports: “Dark Mofo last year attracted 45,000 interstate visitors, sold more than 100,000 tickets and brought in more than $5.5 million at the box office, and has been described by the Tasmanian Hospitality Association as a "game changer" for winter tourism.”
COLD AND WINDY - VENICE CARNIVALE
Venice's Carnevale is world renowned. But February in Venice is one of the coldest months of the year. 9C is the average high and the average low is a bitter 1C.
It’s described as “always cold and windy” – but that doesn’t stop the parades and famous masquerade balls with incredible fashions and Venetian masks. Nor does it stop three million visitors attending.
NEW ORLEANS’ MARDI GRAS
One year it was so cold that mules refused to pull the famous parade floats! Visitors are advised to pack a raincoat and ear muffs. With 1.4 million visitors in two weeks, it “generates nearly $900 million of economic impact”, according to New Orleans Tourism.
REGIONAL REVELRY - BRAZIL
In Brazil, they actually celebrate the start of winter – for a month! And the focus is strongest in regional areas.
Imagine getting visitors passing through your town or city that equate to seven times the normal population –in 30 days.
“City officials expect more than 2.5 million visitors to pass through (Caruaru) this month, attracted by large paper mache figures, men on wooden stilts and the traditional mock wedding,” according to Rio Times.
According to Viva Brasi: “Festa Junina increases tourism, specially in the North East of Brazil that attracts people from all over the country during the celebration period. Tourists can provide the big cities with more than R$75 millions (AUD $20 million) spent in food, traditional events and activities.
“The size of the public in the festivals varies. School and churches can attract local communities and small publics, while larger festivals can reach up to one million people!”
Festa Junina increases tourism, specially in the North East of Brazil that attracts people from all over the country during the celebration period.
SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL - UTAH
Held in January, Utah’s coldest month of the year. World famous. Runs for 10 days and attracts about 85,000 visitors – and headlines around the world.
BURN IT UP - VALENCIA, SPAIN
At the end of winter, Valencia in Spain stages Las Fallas over five days. It translates as “the fires and attracts more than 3 million visitors. Puppets are made and then set on fire, along with bullfights, parades and paella contests”.
