Why Adelaide is Thriving: AEDA releases its 2023/24 Annual Report

The Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA) has released its 2023/24 Annual Report, which highlights the wins of the Agency last financial year.

From campaigns that debunk outdated perceptions that Adelaide is boring to supporting businesses and festivals to boost employment and visitation numbers in the city respectively—AEDA is proud to support the local economy.

With its continued investment in Adelaide’s business ecosystem, events, and tourism industry, AEDA remains a key player in the city’s ongoing growth. 

2023/24 Annual Report Highlights

• AEDA invested more than $2 million into events and festivals to drive demand for people to come into the City.
• The 'See for Yourself' campaign challenged outdated perceptions that the City is 'boring' and, through a partnership with the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC), the voice of the City in tourism promotion activity increased.
• More than $1 million was invested into Strategic Partners—Business Events Adelaide, Festival City Adelaide, Renew Adelaide and Study Adelaide—to attract people into the City for business events, study opportunities and other commercial initiatives.
• AEDA supported ThincLab, MTP Connect and SouthStart to deliver programs that assisted some of Adelaide’s brightest entrepreneurs scale up or prepare their business for investment.
• The range of activations in Rundle Mall was broadened. Rundle Mall continued to deliver signature events around Tasting Australia, the festival season and Black Friday.
• More than 70 investment and business growth enquires were addressed, potentially leading to 1,500 jobs for the City.
• AEDA continued to support precincts across the CBD and North Adelaide by investing in the City of Adelaide's Mainstreet program.
• More than 70 volunteers provided guidance to 56,000 visitors to the city through AEDA's visitor information services. Dedication to tourism and visitor economy helped the Adelaide Greeters Walking Tour win Tripadvisor’s 2024 Traveler’s Choice Award.
• The gaming sector received assistance through the Games Plus Support Program.
• AEDA worked with the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) to develop the Frida and Diego City Trail, which not only raised awareness of the exhibition, but also connected people visiting the gallery with City businesses. These learnings have been applied to the Chihuly in the Botanic Garden exhibition, resulting in the Adelaide Celebrates Glass City Trail.
• Businesses, government, and other city stakeholders were provided with topical information about Adelaide's economic landscape through Data4Lunch and the AEDA Business Summit.

View the report here.