National visitor survey data from the South Australian Tourism Commission released today shows South Australia saw 195,000 interstate overnight visitors spend $244 million in June 2022.

This level of spending is up 30 per cent on the same time last year.

Day trips to and within South Australia in June 2022 were well above pre COVID levels, with 897,000 day trips and spend of $134 million, up 27 per cent on the same month in 2019.

The data also looks good for Adelaide, with a $250 million spend in June – up 28 per cent pre COVID.

It comes as STR accommodation data shows the historic rugby Wallabies/Wallaroos double-header in August attracted the second highest nightly revenue for Adelaide hotels since the pandemic began.

On Saturday 27 August when Adelaide Oval saw a record rugby crowd of 36,336 and the CBD was alive with rugby fans, Adelaide accommodation revenue for the night was $2.25 million.

It also saw average occupancy at 86 per cent – more than 16 percentage points above the monthly average, and the fourth highest occupancy on record since pre-pandemic.

Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison said the data is a sign of a continued tourism recovery.

“We know winter is a traditionally quieter time for tourism so to have such strong interstate and day trips expenditure in June, as well as the boost for Adelaide’s visitor economy, which is well above pre COVID levels, is a wonderful achievement,” Bettison said.

“We also know events are a vital trigger for visitation to our state and the huge surge in CBD hotel revenue and occupancy for the night of last month’s Rugby double-header highlights just how powerful events can be.”