David Koch, a seasoned media professional and Executive Chairman of Pinstripe Media, has been appointed as the new Chair of the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC).

Koch, who has served as Chair of the Port Adelaide Football Club since 2012 and hosted the Sunrise program on the Seven Network for over 20 years, will work with the SATC Board to set the strategic agenda for the Commission. His appointment is for a period of three years, effective from 2 July 2024, and he replaces Andrew Bullock, who has served as Chair of SATC since 2019.

South Australia's visitor economy has shown resilience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a spend of $10.1 billion in the December 2023 quarter, up 20% from the December 2019 quarter of $8 billion. The state has recently hosted a series of events including the Santos Tour Down Under, Fringe and Adelaide Festivals, WOMADelaide, Gather Round, LIV Golf, and Tasting Australia presented by RAA Travel. Furthermore, Emirates is set to resume direct flights to Adelaide later this year, with the SATC also targeting further direct flights from key Asian markets.

Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, praised Koch's appointment, stating, Kochie is a well-known figure to all Australians and has always been tremendously passionate about his home State of South Australia.

"He has long-been a fierce advocate for small business which is the lifeblood of our tourism industry," he said. "Through major events like LIV Golf and Gather Round, the eyes of the nation and the world are upon us. We need to capitalise on these opportunities to sell what South Australia has to offer as a unique holiday destination for both interstate and overseas travellers. I’d like to thank Andrew Bullock for his dedicated leadership of the SATC over the past five years."

Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison, said the state was fortunate to have someone of the calibre of Koch to lead the work of our State’s Tourism Commission.

"David will give us some fresh perspectives that will enable our sector to keep growing as we outpace the nation," she said.

Koch saw so many advantages in South Australia that make it an ideal destination for holidaymakers.

"We do the best food and wine in the nation, and we have some of the nation’s most spectacular regions. We also retain a reputation for delivering first-class major events and festivals. More recently, the perceptions of Adelaide and South Australia have shifted significantly on the east coast – and we have an opportunity to capitalise on this momentum to grow our tourism sector even further," he commented.

CEO South Australian Tourism Commission, Emma Terry, also welcomed Koch's appointment.

"It’s an exciting time for tourism in South Australia and we have been working closely with industry to build momentum and position South Australia as a destination of choice. On behalf of the SATC, we look forward to working with Mr Koch to market South Australia to the world and continuing to grow tourism's contribution to the State," she said.