So this week it’s COVID recovery, marketing, ATDW, a grants scheme of interest to perhaps a very few of you, and a reminder that our Facebook groups are worth joining.
COVID-Safe Plans are the go!
The SATC is urging that any businesses reopening after COVID-19 restrictions should complete the COVID-Safe Plan before they can reopen. What parts of the tourism industry and what aren’t included isn’t entirely clear. I’ve been sharing the confusion! I gather that pressure is being exerted up the chain to get more clarity for our industry. Anyway, I discussed this with your council tourism managers at our weekly meeting this morning. And we agreed that the best advice is: everyone should do a Plan, whether they have to or not. The reasons?
The word about this will be out amongst our customers and you could find them asking if you have a Plan or not. So it’s a form of accreditation to have one.
We understand that they don’t take too long to fill in – 20 or 30 minutes has been several operators’ experience. (Given the short notice, you’d hope not!)
3. Complete the COVID-Safe Planby Monday 1 June outlining how your staff and patrons can be kept safe from COVID-19
4. Discuss your plan with staff, contractors and suppliers – share relevant details so they know what they need to do
5. Implement the steps you have agreed to as best as you can. Remember: the requirements on the Plan are obligations and a penalty can apply for non-compliance
6. Print your COVID-Safe Plan and make it available at your business premises.
Helpful links:
Step 2 frequently asked questions – this includes details for restaurants, cafes, wineries (including information about tastings at cellar doors), pubs, breweries, bars, cinemas, theatres, galleries and museums
Tour operators and COVID
It’s clear not just in SA but nationally that tour operators are desperate for and not yet getting clear and detailed guidance on how they can implement the principles of COVID safety and make an income. There have been useful discussions and information sharing about this on our Tours and Experience Facebook group. Join it if you need to know more. I congratulate Andrew Govan of Venture Corporate Recharge and some colleagues in the activities-based sector for campaigning on this and producing guidance materials for the sector. Again I know that the sector’s concerns are well-understood by the SATC and there’s hard work going on to get more clarity on a quite complex area.
Stop press: Shaun de Bruyn, CEO of Tourism Industry council SA, has just let us know the following: “the State Government has approved the waiver of passenger transport operator accreditation and annual vehicle fees for a twelve-month period for eligible bus, tour and charter vehicle operators.” It’s something! Thanks to Shaun for his vigorous campaigning on this one.
The marketing tempo increases
The SATC is rolling out more and more marketing initiatives. For instance, watch the media on Tuesday next week as we’ll be the featured region in a Welcome Back campaign. The SATC is right up there with the research showing that we’re the most favoured regions for South Australians to make their first visit to.
Check your ATDW listing!
SATC sent me a report today on our ATDW entries which shows a pretty healthy situation:
There are currently 897 live ATDW listings on sa.com
550,342k Product Views, up 53.43% year on year.
125,106k ATDW Leads.
However: there are 600 expired entries. Don’t panic entirely: a lot of these are events, still up there because the organisers have forgotten to disable the entry. Not great but not as much of a problem as some of the really good accommodation and other businesses which I noted. ATDW is a pretty useful tool for them and I suggest that you check your entry.
eCAP - Funding Scheme available Look, this one’s only for a few of you if you’re interested in international sales and have the time to get something in by 2 June. Eek! On checking I saw two potentially relevant items of interest:
Commissioning preparation of a digital marketing plan to drive traffic to an online store or eCommerce listings on third party platforms
Establishment of other online international marketing platforms
The eCommerce Accelerator Program (eCAP) is a financial assistance program to support South Australian small to medium-sized exporters who want to sell their products or services digitally and globally. The program supports businesses to grow their export revenue and create new jobs by selling products and services online. Grants for up to $10,000 (exc. GST) are available to support eligible exporters to fund expenditure incurred in building new capability to access international markets through eCommerce platforms. Businesses with export-ready goods or services that are made in South Australia will be able to use the funding to help establish an eCommerce presence or implement ways to drive online sales. Read more here and apply before 2 June.
FPT private Facebook groups for you
Just to keep on the promotional trail for this one: join one of our four closed Facebook groups to get the latest information, support each other, swap questions and chat about issues which I can take up with the SATC. Participation keeps growing but still represents perhaps less than 20% of our industry. Bulletins and updates tend to be a one-way street and can’t get into detail. These Facebook groups allow for more dynamic discussions:
