Too many empty rooms means SA lags

The Sunshine State is celebrating at South Australia's expense over the latest tourist industry figures.

Throughout Australia, tourism accommodation businesses recorded a 4.4 per cent rise in takings in the three months to September 30 compared with the year before.

But the news for South Australia is grim. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the SA room occupancy rate was the lowest of all mainland states in the September quarter.

In comparison, Queensland's takings from the state's hotels, motels and serviced apartments for the September quarter last year was $617 million – the highest since records began.

Revenue for Queensland tourism accommodation providers jumped a spectacular $98 million, or 18 per cent, as national and international tourists spent time visiting the State.

The occupancy rate for Queensland's tourism accommodation was 71 per cent, the highest since 2007.

In NSW, the occupancy rate was 65.9 per cent, a full per cent higher than the year before.
Occupancy rates in the Northern Territory were even better – at 74.1 per cent, the highest in the country.
"But South Australia is stagnant," Shadow Tourism Minister David Ridgway said.

"At just 62.1 per cent occupancy, for hotels, motels and serviced apartments with 15 or more rooms our industry is shrinking compared with other states.

"And it's not as if the Minister wasn't warned. As long ago as May last year, Deloitte Access Economics forecast Adelaide's room occupancy rates to be flat, gaining just 1 per cent over the next three years.

"Room rate growth has also been stagnant, again failing to match other mainland capitals," Mr Ridgway said.

Source: Accomodation Association of Australia, 11 January 2013