Tourism

SECTOR OPPORTUNITY

Tourism

Ecotourism – Luxurious regional accommodation – Premium food and wine – Arts and culture – Aboriginal tourism

Highlights


South Australia’s tourism sector is underpinned by the state’s reputation as a world-class holiday destination with unique experiences such as the wilderness of Kangaroo Island, the vineyards of the Barossa Valley, and shark diving in Port Lincoln.

With high visitation numbers, the industry is booming and set to continue with the government committed to increasing the state’s visitor economy to $12.8 billion with 4,400 new tourism jobs to be created by 2030.

To meet this massive future demand, South Australia’s tourism sector is open to foreign investment, notably in ecotourism experiences and luxurious accommodation.
South Australia - Tourism investment
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Growth and government support


Metropolitan Hotels - Underway or Announced


  • $400 million  - Market Square redevelopment, Adelaide Central Market featuring Treehouse Hotel, 248 rooms
  • $400 million  - Keystone Tower, North Terrace, 240 rooms
  • $350 million  - Hilton Hotel, 251 rooms
  • $130 million   - Crystalbrook Sam, 206 rooms
  • $74 million     - Little National Hotel on North Terrace, 214 rooms
  • $40 million    - Amora Hotels and Resorts refurbishment, Victoria Square hotel (formerly Hilton Adelaide)
  • $60 million     - Hotel Panorama, 77 rooms 
  • $35 million     - Quest II Port Adelaide, 90 rooms
  • $30 million      - Veriu Adelaide with 129, rooms

Successful regional investment projects


  • $150 million  - The Bend Motorsport Park 
  • $56 million    - Monarto Safari Park upgrade 
  • $45 million    - Bridgeport Hotel 
  • $15 million     - d’Arenberg Cube, McLaren Vale 

Other projects include:


  • InterContinental Hotels & Resorts Lyndoch
  • Nexus Hotel Barossa
  • Stirling Golf Club - Mt Lofty Estate
  • The Cliffs – Kangaroo Island
  • The Oscar at Seppeltsfield
  • The Break Surf & Stay - Aldinga

Kangaroo Island
Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission. Photo: Jonathon van der Knaap.

Growth in South Australia:


  • 11 new hotels since 2020
  • A$4.5 billion in domestic visitor spend on commercial accommodation last year (2025)
  • 76% average occupancy for Adelaide hotels in 2025, 61% in regional South Australia
  • Record-breaking year for Adelaide Fringe Festival with over one million tickets sold (2025)
  • Regional visitor expenditure A$4.1 billion (year end 2025)
  • The Government of South Australia directly supports regional tourism investment through its A$154.2 million Business Growth Fund

Sources: Tourism Research Australia, DoTS, December 2025, Fringe Festival Impact Report 2025

Flinders Ranges
Credit: Rawnsley Park Station. Photo: Randy Larcombe.

Investment advantages


South Australia is globally connected and provides superior business stability and continuity afforded by the state’s higher employee retention rates, payroll tax advantages and land tax opportunities. This contributes to a reputation for a robust and resilient economy.

Adelaide has developed an arts and entertainment identity drawing visitors from all over the world with year-round experiences at arts and music festivals and events, international sporting events, great restaurants, hotels, and boutique laneway bars.

Adelaide differs from other major interstate city centres with a smaller CBD and greater access to surrounding suburbs and regions. Efficient road and public transport networks mean a short trip to the city, hills, beaches or international airport, with direct and easy travel to popular regional areas.

Regional tourism is booming with South Australia’s unique and diverse natural assets and experiences, amazing fresh food, and 18 distinctive, internationally recognised wine regions set on stunning landscapes.

Leading the way with experiential travel, South Australia lends itself to unique, funky, off-grid cabins or eco-pods or luxury accommodation in the most astonishing locations – along pristine beaches, in dense forests, amongst vineyards, above hidden coves, majestic gorges, and on top of rolling hills.

Connected ecosystem


To ensure South Australia’s tourism sector thrives, we work closely with the South Australian Tourism Commission to deliver investment opportunities and high-class experiences.

We work across all levels of government, with the Regional Development Authority and the government’s overseas offices to provide support to investors.

The Tourism sector team provide a bespoke client management service to investors looking to develop a tourism offering in South Australia. The team can facilitate introductions and engagement with stakeholders such as regulators, transport and infrastructure, training providers and are on hand to showcase the sector and all it offers.

Investment opportunities

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Contact

Help for investing in South Australia's Tourism sector

Tom Herraman

Business Development Manager - Tourism

Promoting South Australia’s tourism offering through sustainable tourism developments and experiences.

Contact

+61 428 616 423 Thomas.Herraman@sa.gov.au