Figures released today show that the 2009 Tour Down Under was the biggest event ever staged in South Australia.
Premier Mike Rann today announced the preliminary economic impact and research figures for the event, which was held in South Australia from 18-25 January.
“The 2009 Tour Down Under has broken almost every record for a sporting event held in South Australia,” Premier Rann said.
“Visitor numbers were doubled, the economic impact was more than doubled, and the amount of media coverage has increased five-fold since the 2008 event.
“The 2009 Tour Down Under injected a massive $39million into the South Australian economy, from the tens of thousands of visitors who travelled here from interstate and overseas. It was the biggest event we have ever staged.
The $39million economic impact compares to $17.3million in 2008, an increase of 125 per cent (on top of an increase of 50.4 per cent from 2007 to 2008).
“36,200 people from interstate and overseas travelled Adelaide and South Australia specifically to watch the event, compared with 15,100 people last year,” said Premier Rann.
“The Tour Down Under has grown every year since its inception in 1999, and with the participation of cycling legend Lance Armstrong in 2009 we knew the results this year would be huge.
“Lance’s decision to make his cycling comeback at the Tour Down Under was an incredible boost for the event and gave us the opportunity to showcase South Australia to a global audience.
“The ‘Lance Factor’ attracted many more people to the Tour Down Under, but their great experiences here in South Australia and their enjoyment of the festival of cycling will entice them back to future events,” said Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith.
“The Tour Down Under was front page news here in Australia and around the world, and over $210 million of editorial media coverage has been achieved so far.
“Television coverage beamed the State’s beautiful vineyards and spectacular coastline into homes across Europe, Asia and the United States.
“The research also shows that crowd figures were even bigger than were first estimated, with over 760,500 people taking to the streets to watch the action during the seven days of racing.”
The revised crowd figures are an increase on the initial SAPOL estimates of 743,000.
“The Tour Down Under was a massive boost for South Australia and we look forward to another fantastic event in 2010 when the event will again kick-off the prestigious UCI ProTour calendar,” said Premier Rann.