Over the last three years regional councils and communities have recognised the importance and potential of tourism. Water based tourist industry along the River Murray has developed to iconic proportions supported by South Australian Tourism Commission and prize-winning, Murraylands Tourism Marketing Committee.  Mannum is the location of the largest houseboat fleet in Australia with an experienced houseboat industry. From the Murray Princess, to super luxury or minute River Wren houseboats, visitors enjoy both restful and stimulating river activities.  The region is dotted with small tourist facilities – bed and breakfast, farm stays, eco-facilities, caravan parks, walking trails, indigenous cultural heritage sites, with the Coorong at the southern end of the Murray system and Monarto Zoological Park at the entry to the Murraylands. High profile events attract visitors – Karoonda Farm Fair, Tour Down Under, Masters Games, Horse Racing and Centenary Events. The region has a wonderful Mediterranean climate, fabulous sunsets and sunrises, wide open skies and expansive horizons.  Common determination across the region energises tourist development and visitor attraction into the Mallee, the Coorong and the Murraylands with potential for investment at every level.

OPPORTUNITIES

• Re-development of the Railway precinct in the Rural City of Murray Bridge with possible conference centre and quality accommodation provides a new foundation for regional tourist industry and visitor experience.
• Potential for investment in conference facilities at Mannum to expand existing tourist infrastructure has been identified.
• Local Government Engagement in Tourism Final Report 2006, highlights authentic experiences relevant to history, industry, culture, lifestyle & natural resources.
• Linking and expanding existing sites/facilities with supporting information maps focusing on tourist interests offers opportunities to highlight and develop collaborative strategies and complementary infrastructure - bike trails in regional towns across Murraylands; eco-tourist trails along River Murray and Coorong; indigenous cultural heritage trails.
• River Murray Dreaming Concept highlights potential for compatible development of water re-furbishment and re-stocking of native fish, with investment in eco-and indigenous cultural tourism projects.
• Potential for 7– Day Rural Trails highlighting rural life and agricultural heritage to develop an untapped market which can attract family and overseas visitors to the diversity of the Mallee and the “Real Australia” and the “Romance of the Bush”.

The primary objective of the Murraylands Integrated Regional Strategic Tourism Plan (MIRSTP) is to: ‘Provide the Murraylands with an innovative and strategic policy and planning, and critical framework that will help attract and grow investment and build capacity in sustainable tourism within the region.’

The implementation committee has been appointed and has begun implementing the recommendations of the Plan.

You can download 2 versions of the report. One containing all of the attachments and one without. If you have any questions about the Plan or its implementation you can contact the independent Chair, Ken Coventry OAM via email

• MIRSTP Version 1 - Without attachments
• MIRSTP Version 2 - With all attachments