Adelaide Festival generates record expenditure for SA

Image:Pina Bausch’s Nelken (Carnations)

This year’s Adelaide Festival generated a record $78.3 million for the South Australian economy. This was an increase of 22% in just two years, the highest result in the festival’s history.

19,800 visitors – almost 30% of total attendees – were from interstate or overseas with visitor bed nights increasing to 133,321. Visitor related expenditure was up 24% to a record $28.2 million – a spectacular 94% increase on 2014.

Adelaide Festival Chair, Judy Potter, said, “Adelaide Festival’s economic impact continues to grow year on year, providing a vital injection to the state’s economy.

“We are proud of our status as a destination event, and it is encouraging in the current economic climate to see our visitor related expenditure increase at such a significant rate.”

The independent survey, conducted by Harrison Research and The Economic Research Consultants found that 95% of visitors were either “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the festival. 98% of those surveyed consider events such as Adelaide Festival to be important in profiling the city and state.

Running for 18 days and nights across February and March, this year’s festival included seven world premieres, 20 Australian premieres and 20 events exclusive to Adelaide.

Adelaide Festival Chief Executive, Sandy Verschoor emphasised, “The 2016 festival broke a number of records – largest ever ticketed event (Groupe F, A Fleur de Peau), fastest selling dance show (Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, Nelken [Carnations]), and highest ever book sales at Adelaide Writers’ Week.

“We are all thrilled at the outcomes of this year’s festival – and are developing partnerships around the globe to grow our cultural tourism numbers even more in 2017 and beyond.”

SA Arts Minister Jack Snelling thanked outgoing Artistic Director David Sefton and former CEO Karen Bryant for their role in the event’s success in 2016.

“I really look forward to what promises to be a dazzling 2017 festival with Neil Armfield and Rachel Healy at the helm,” he said.

Last month, the Adelaide Cabaret Festival drew 42,000 patrons. Many of the 150 performances were sell-outs, with headline artist Dita Von Teese adding an extra show.