Eight KI tourism operators attended the event, representing All Seasons Kangaroo Island Lodge, Sealink, Kangaroo Island Seafront Resort, Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat, Kangaroo Island Wilderness Tours, Exceptional Kangaroo Island, Aurora Ozone Hotel and Southern Ocean Lodge.

The high number of operators in attendance meant KI was the best represented of all SA regions at the event.

It also came as the region was declared part of Tourism Australia’s National Landscapes program - the only region in the country to be recognised this year.

More than 40 SA operators represented the State at ATE, which was held in Melbourne and attracted more than 700 travel wholesalers and media from around the world.

The event brings the wholesalers and tourism operators from throughout Australia together, giving operators the chance to have their product included in brochures and programs sold by travel agents around the world.

Michael and Kim Veal from Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat met with more than 85 international travel experts in just four days.

“Kangaroo Island is an experience - you don’t open a photo album to remember your visit, you remember it for the things you experienced. It’s an interactive holiday,” Mr Veal said.

“We have also been talking about the restaurant and the Kangaroo Island delicacies and South Australian produce,” Ms Veal said. “It’s a five-star experience and we’re lucky we have such amazing produce to work with.”

Michael and Kim met with travel wholesalers from Germany, Italy, France, the UK, US, Netherlands and Sweden during the four days.

And further international marketing opportunities for Kangaroo Island are expected at next year’s ATE, which will be hosted in Adelaide.

It will be the second time SA has hosted the event. The first time, in 2006, more than 600 travel wholesalers and media from around the world undertook more than 80 different pre and post-event familiarisation trips throughout the State.

Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith said the 2010 event, supported by $2 million in State Government funding, will build on the success of the 2006 ATE.