Officials are telling 300 attendees of a conference from tourism based business that the number of tourists visiting Adelaide Zoo could swell to between 3/4 - 1 million tourists a year when the pandas arrive next year, with the larger figure happening if a cub is born.

The conference set up by the Adelaide zoo to discuss opportunities for businesses catering for tourists. A large number of those people visiting the pandas will be national and international travellers.

Zoos SA director of communications and partnerships Belinda Redman stated "If it's just one more reason to stay one more night, then it makes a significant impact on all small businesses."