Adelaide to host Australia’s premier tourism trade event

Adelaide will host Australia’s largest annual event for building tourism opportunities for Australia – the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) – in April 2018.

Senator David Fawcett said this event would bring more than 2,500 delegates from over 30 countries to meet and develop future tourism business for Adelaide and across Australia.

“This is a coup for our city as the tourism world descends on Adelaide for the ATE,” Senator Fawcett said.

“ATE delivers significant economic benefits and Adelaide, as the host city, can expect an immediate injection of around $10 million to the local economy during the week-long event.”

Collectively, the 700 international travel wholesalers and retailers who attend ATE bring close to three million visitors to Australia each year with an estimated pre-booked spend between $5.5 and $8.5 billion in addition to their on-ground spend in Australia. More than 550 Australian tourism businesses will have the chance to showcase their products and services directly to the agents who sell Australian holidays internationally during the more than 50,000 business appointments held at ATE.

Senator Fawcett said South Australia boasted world-famous wine regions and a vibrant dining scene, so it was fitting that food and wine would be a key focus of ATE in 2018.

“ATE is a chance for South Australia to shine on the world stage and attract more tourists,” Senator Fawcett said.

“South Australia will reap the benefits long after ATE finishes thanks to the thousands of delegates who will get to see what the state and country has to offer.

“ATE is all about showcasing the exceptional destinations and experiences offered by the diverse tourism businesses that can be found throughout our country, so that we in turn might convert this into future bookings and travel to Australia.

Senator Fawcett said would be the third time Adelaide hosted the ATE, with the event first being hosted in the city in 2006 and again in 2010.

“It’s brilliant to have the event back in Adelaide,” Senator Fawcett said.

“It’s a huge injection into our local economy and the benefits flow across the country, driving Australia’s $100 billion tourism industry.”

Tourism Australia is working with the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) to deliver ATE18 from 15 to 19 April.

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