From the Chief Executive is intended to keep you, as a SATIC member, more informed of what I'm doing, as Chief Executive, of your industry body. The work I do is on your behalf, so I don't want this to be a one-way conversation. I invite your responses, direction, contributions and comments, please do so by making a comment at the end of each item.

Regards,

WARD TILBROOK

Unfortunately, tourism has been in the media for all the wrong reasons over the last six months, as things have not gone well in some key areas and, as a result, a review of the SA Tourism Commission is under way by the new Chair and CEO Jane Jeffreys...

SATIC are part of the SA Business Coalition advocating against the 1/2 day public holidays and associated penalty rates for Christmas and New Year's Eve being part of the deal between Business SA and the Shoppies union (SDA) to allow CBD retailers to open on public holidays...

I have spoken to the General Manager of the SA Tourism Commission, Rik Morris and to the Minister's Media Adviser, Michael Gorey about the recent developments with Holidays of Australia's operation of the SA Travel Centre.

You are probably aware that the SA Travel Centre in Adelaide is currently in the media. (See Adelaide Now article 19/2/12.) Not surprisingly, I am being contacted by SATIC members and I'm making representations on your behalf.

The State Government has released its Mid Year Budget Review and has revised its revenue down by $1.1billion and its expenses up by $472 million over the "forward estimates". Areas of the Budget Review directly relating to tourism are...

I recently met with the new Minister for Tourism the Hon. Gail Gago. The fact that the Minister agreed to meet with me within days of the government reshuffle spoke volumes. Minister Gago is also the Minister for the Status of Women; Forests; Agriculture, Food and Fisheries; as well as Minister for Regional Development....

A compelling and effective www.southaustralia.com is critical to our tourism industry. How's that for a blatantly obvious statement to start off with?

Forget the arguments about the science, we're beyond that now. A carbon tax looms on the horizon and it will have an impact on tourism both on the supply and demand side.

If you run a business, then you may have to prepare yourself for a new pile of compliance work and cost.

Bianca and I met with Minister Rau on Friday 12th August. We had half an hour of his undivided attention, and we were able to put to him a number of industry concerns...