Adelaide City Council is planning a marketing scheme to help Chinatown traders.

Traders had called for rates relief and a street party to combat a downturn over coronavirus concerns.

Instead, Gouger Street traders will be promoted with a marketing campaign.

Business owners say trading is down by 70 to 80 per cent in the last few weeks, so the ad campaign will have to be highly effective.

Councillor Simon Hou said local jobs and businesses would be supported.

“Local businesses don't need [us] to chat to them with some nice words and photos — when we talk about support we need to consider the money into it,” he told the ABC.

“Over the last couple of months we are all aware that local businesses are suffering — things are really tough.

“Many businesses need help with cash flow and I don't believe rate relief is an option.

“Businesses need more customers and that is something we must help them [with].

“Running a marketing campaign is actually what we need — we could bring more people back into the city and spend more money in the city.”

A petition by the Chinatown Association of South Australia (CASA) sought funding for a street party to attract more people to the area, but the council is discouraging public gatherings.

Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said the council is also working on stimulus measures for the entire city.

It has announced a “targeted digital campaign”, under the brand #MyAdelaide, encouraging more people “to spend more time and more money in the city and North Adelaide”.

“We've been dealing with an extraordinary year. We've had bushfires, drought and coronavirus,” Ms Verschoor said.

“[This] is a way to stimulate some more activity in the city, particularly in the next few weeks as the Festival and Fringe and Womad finish.”