Review of Council's Tourism and Event programs

The Mount Barker District Council organises and manages the Adelaide Hills Visitor Information Centre (AHVIC) in Hahndorf. The Council funds the entire cost of the centre, which promotes the whole Adelaide Hills region. Local financial support is provided by the Hahndorf Business and Tourism Association.

The AHVIC is the only accredited Visitor Centre in the region, traditionally servicing the needs of up to 40,000 visitors per annum (pre-COVID data). 82% of these visitors are usually from overseas and interstate while 18% are from South Australia. In addition, AHVIC runs a local street ambassador/community event/meet and greet program which has assisted a further 20,000 visitors (pre-COVID-data)

AHVIC offers both face to face and online services through their digital platforms, linking to and supporting other regional digital assets. They operate an online booking / promotion system, stock brochures, maps and provide advice and referrals. Consumer research has indicated a high level of satisfaction with the AHVIC and an excellent conversion rate convincing visitors to spend more, stay longer or return to the region. Research also indicates that the AHVIC is successful in generating regional dispersal from Hahndorf to other parts of the Adelaide Hills, which is estimated to result in approximately $4.5 million unplanned economic benefit.

Your assistance in responding to this questionnaire will help shape the future direction for the Visitor Centre and wider regional visitor servicing programs for the Adelaide Hills.

The questionnaire compromises 12 questions and will take less than 5 minutes of your time to complete.

Mount Barker District Council supports local community events, civic events, tourism and major events throughout the district. The provision of a balanced community event support program is the nucleus of this support. The program includes the provision of financial and/or in-kind support to community groups and event organisers that meet the criteria and provide relevant documentation.

Council’s event staff provide support and guidance, conduct safety inspections, arrange training courses, loan event equipment, arrange traffic management, basic marketing and assist where possible in the creation of essential documentation.

The event support program enables our communities to develop the events that are important to them, generate economic and social benefit for our community.

Council generally supports up to 75 events per year, allocates a budget of $154,000, which enables events in the Mount Barker district to return an economic outcome of approximately $7.5million.

Your participation in this questionnaire will guide Mount Barker District Council’s events program into the future.