Summer Getaways Go Live as Coast Is Calling Vouchers Open for South Australia’s Coastal Destinations

Published on December 4, 2025

South Australians who successfully secured Coast is Calling Travel Vouchers have now been given the opportunity to commence bookings for their summer holidays. From today, bookings can be made across a broad range of coastal accommodation and experiences, with the initiative designed to stimulate travel demand and provide direct economic support to tourism operators affected by the recent algal bloom.

The Coast is Calling Travel Voucher program has been delivered as a targeted economic recovery measure under the State and Federal Governments’ Algal Bloom Summer Plan. The scheme is intended to accelerate visitation to affected coastal communities while encouraging South Australians to rediscover and support their own regional destinations during peak travel periods.

Strong Economic Results from the First Round of the Program

Encouraging economic outcomes were recorded during the first round of the Coast is Calling Travel Voucher program. Data from Round 1 indicated that an estimated 6.4 million dollars was generated for the visitor economies of the coastal destinations that were impacted by the algal bloom.

On average, for every one dollar invested through the program, an estimated 4.50 dollars was injected directly into local communities. These results demonstrated the effectiveness of the voucher model in stimulating both consumer spending and broader economic activity across coastal tourism regions.

The strong return on investment observed in the first round provided confidence for the continuation and expansion of the program in Round 2, with additional accommodation types and experiences now included.

Travel Window Designed to Capture Peak Holiday Periods

The official travel period for Coast is Calling Travel Voucher Round 2 has been structured to align with South Australia’s major leisure travel windows. Travel under the program will commence tomorrow, Friday 5 December 2025, and will continue until 26 April 2026.

This extended travel window captures the full summer holiday season, the Easter school holidays, and long weekends in both January and March. By covering multiple high-demand periods, the program is expected to deliver sustained benefits to coastal tourism operators rather than concentrating demand into a short timeframe.

The timing has also been designed to provide certainty for both consumers and businesses, enabling forward planning and improved occupancy management across the summer months.

Allocation of 30,000 Vouchers Across Experiences and Accommodation

A total of 30,000 vouchers has been allocated for Round 2 of the program. These include 100 dollar experience vouchers, as well as accommodation vouchers valued at 100 dollars, 200 dollars, and 500 dollars.

This tiered structure has been introduced to accommodate a wide range of travel budgets and trip types, from short weekend escapes to extended family holidays. The availability of higher-value accommodation vouchers is expected to support longer stays and higher overall visitor expenditure in participating coastal regions.

Voucher recipients have been enabled to select from a broad range of eligible tourism products, offering flexibility in how the financial support can be applied to individual travel plans.

Immediate Booking Period With Fixed Redemption Deadline

Bookings are permitted to be made immediately upon receipt of a valid voucher. Voucher holders have been provided with a redemption window extending until 4pm ACDT on Monday 19 January 2026 to finalise their bookings.

This booking deadline has been set to ensure that travel arrangements are locked in early within the peak summer season. Tourism operators have been afforded greater visibility of forward bookings, while voucher recipients are encouraged to act promptly to secure their preferred accommodation and experiences.

Any vouchers that remain unclaimed after this deadline will not remain unused, ensuring that the maximum possible economic benefit is delivered to coastal regions.

Expanded Eligibility for Holiday Rentals and New Experiences

Round 2 of the Coast is Calling Travel Voucher program has been expanded to include additional accommodation and experience categories. Holiday rentals, including Airbnbs, have now been approved for inclusion, provided they are registered on the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse and operate with a valid ABN.

The scope of eligible experiences has also been broadened to include guided sporting experiences, along with an expanded range of leisure and entertainment activities. This expansion has increased both the diversity and accessibility of the program for different traveller preferences.

Through this broader inclusion, the program is now positioned to support a wider cross-section of tourism businesses, from traditional hotels and tour operators to smaller independent accommodation providers and niche experience operators.

More Than 700 Coastal Products Available to Voucher Holders

Voucher holders have been granted access to a selection of more than 700 coastal accommodation providers and tourism experiences across South Australia. The participating offerings span a diverse mix of products suited to couples, families, and adventure-seeking travellers.

Experiences available under the program include kayaking adventures, seafood tours, and sailing experiences. Accommodation options range from family-friendly holiday parks and eco-stays to glamping experiences and fully serviced hotels.

This extensive inventory has been curated to ensure that voucher recipients can design highly personalised coastal getaways while directing expenditure into local communities that rely heavily on seasonal tourism.

Redraw Process to Maximise Voucher Utilisation

To ensure that all allocated vouchers are fully utilised, a redraw has been scheduled for 22 January. This process will reallocate any unclaimed or unused vouchers to participants who were unsuccessful in the initial draw.

The redraw mechanism has been introduced to maximise redemption rates and ensure that the full economic potential of the program is realised. By redistributing unused vouchers, the program continues to deliver new travel opportunities while maintaining strong levels of participation.

This approach also supports equity of access, allowing additional households the chance to participate in the initiative if vacancies arise.

Transferability Feature Encourages Broader Community Benefit

A key feature of the Coast is Calling Travel Voucher program is the transferability of vouchers. Voucher holders who are unable to redeem their voucher within the required booking periods are permitted to share their unique code with another individual.

This flexibility has been designed to reduce the likelihood of voucher wastage while extending the program’s economic impact across a broader segment of the community. Through this mechanism, additional travel can be stimulated even when the original voucher holder is unable to proceed with their planned trip.

The transferability feature also supports the overarching goal of driving maximum visitation to South Australia’s coastal regions during a critical recovery phase.

Program Funding Under the Algal Bloom Summer Plan

The Coast is Calling Travel Voucher program has been funded as part of the joint State and Federal Governments’ Algal Bloom Summer Plan. This broader recovery strategy has been implemented to address the economic impacts experienced by coastal communities affected by the algal bloom.

Tourism businesses operating along the State’s coastline have faced reduced visitation and revenue as a result of environmental disruption. The voucher program has therefore been positioned as both a short-term stimulus and a confidence-building measure to encourage continued domestic travel.

Through direct consumer incentives, financial support has been channelled into accommodation providers, tour operators, hospitality venues, and experience businesses located within the affected regions.

Importance of the Summer Period for Coastal Tourism Operators

The summer holiday season is widely regarded as the most critical trading period for many coastal tourism operators in South Australia. For family-owned accommodation providers, experience operators, and hospitality businesses, the majority of annual revenue is often generated during this peak season.

Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison has indicated that school holidays traditionally represent a time when many families choose to holiday in seaside towns across the State. The availability of Coast is Calling Travel Vouchers has been positioned as a measure that supports the continuation of this long-standing travel behaviour while easing the financial burden on households.

With increased booking activity expected from today, a welcome boost in forward reservations is anticipated for tourism businesses that have been adversely affected by the algal bloom.

Coastal Destinations Showcased as Summer Travel Highlights

South Australia’s coastline continues to be presented as a premier summer travel destination, offering a combination of natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and family-friendly attractions. The wide range of accommodation styles and experiences available through the voucher program reflects the diversity of travel experiences that the State’s coastal regions can deliver.

From active water-based adventures to relaxed seaside stays, the coastal tourism offering has been positioned as suitable for both first-time visitors and repeat travellers. The inclusion of iconic and emerging experiences within the program enhances the appeal of coastal travel during the 2025–26 summer season.

With or without a voucher, strong demand for coastal travel is expected to continue, supported by the promotional momentum generated by the Coast is Calling initiative.

Sustained Economic Benefits Expected Through 2026

The extended travel and booking periods associated with Round 2 are expected to deliver sustained economic benefits across coastal communities well into 2026. By spreading visitation across several months, pressure on infrastructure is moderated while employment and cash flow stability are improved for tourism operators.

The economic flow-on effects generated by visitor expenditure are anticipated to extend across accommodation, food and beverage, transport, retail, and local attractions. These multiplier effects play a vital role in supporting regional economies during periods of recovery.

As vouchers continue to be redeemed and redistributed through the redraw process, the program remains positioned as a central pillar of South Australia’s coastal tourism recovery strategy.

[Image Credit: South Australia Tourism Commission]