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SA tourism vouchers slammed by struggling businesses
Holiday vouchers meant to revive South Australia's Riverland region have been criticised by local business owners, who say they haven't worked.
The state government spent more than $3.5 million on the campaign, which was aimed at getting tourists back to the flood-devastated region.
Out of the 12,000 vouchers offered, only 4000 were redeemed by voucher winners, causing business owners to criticise the campaign's success.
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"For us, it was very disappointing and I think as a whole it wasn't what we expected," local business owner Craig Cowing said.
"We only got six or so actual registrations"
Opposition Leader David Spears said "clearly something went wrong" with the vouchers program.
"They haven't been marketed effectively, the strategy hasn't been very good," he said.
Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said the government had taken the criticism into consideration but stood by the program.
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"There will be changes, we have heard, my focus is around the tourism operators and the people of these regions," she said.
The second round of the holiday vouchers campaign will be rolled out with thousands more available.
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