PETA-MARIE PHILIPPOU and JANE KUERSCHNER
A LOCAL couple has received a grant of over $50,000 to establish a luxury touring and transfer experience in the Riverland.
Carolyn and Mark Huckel received $56,745 from the State Government’s South Australian Tourism Commission’s Tourism Industry Development Fund grants for their Riverland Classic Limousines business, which will cost a total of $189,150 to launch.
A total of 42 projects received funding state-wide, however the limousine service was the only successful Riverland recipient.
The Monash couple own and operate Crossfield Cottage Airbnb accommodation.
Mr Huckel, who will be the driver, said the couple plan to have at least one or two classic limousines, to seat eight or more people.
“The limousine business isn’t affiliated with the BNB, it’s its own business for things like wine tours, sunset tours, moving around, restaurant dinners, parties, proms, weddings or anything else,” he said.
“We don’t have wine tours like the Barossa does so we want to start that with the limos.”
Mr Huckel said he believes the new business venture will help fill a “gap in the market”.
“We want to showcase the Riverland,” he said.
“We love our region and want to do what we can to promote it.
“Hope to get the first limo within the next three months.”
Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone said it was positive to see Riverlanders given the opportunity to offer something new.
“It’s successful in other regions and cities, and the Riverland has lacked a limo service,” he said.
“It’s more personalised and complements existing destinations and businesses.
“The Riverland has no bounds when it comes to experiencing different tourism opportunities.
“I’m hoping it’s something that will continue to grow.”
Premier Steven Marshall said the tourism fund is giving regional economies a real boost, creating nearly 700 jobs to date.
“One of the key aims of the Tourism Industry Development Fund is to create new jobs and develop skills and with project applications flooding into the SATC, this number will continue to rise,” he said.
“We know from the latest Tourism Research Australia data that January 2021 has been the best month since the pandemic began.
“Visits, nights and expenditure were the highest for a month since March 2020.”