Most back Games hours

Survey finds traders support being open all day

A MASSIVE majority of Gold Coast businesses support 24hour trading during the Commonwealth Games next year.

That is according to the latest quarterly Griffith UniversityGold Coast Bulletin Business Confidence Poll, which found 86 per cent of respondents in favour of the measure.

The results follow Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation chairman Peter Beattie saying it would be a “disaster” if visitors emerged at night during the Games to find shops closed. Griffith University pro-vice chancellor business Professor David Grant said businesses supported 24-hour trading, regardless of whether they backed it at other times of the year.

Prof Grant said the poll also found that close to a third of respondents, 29 per cent, plan to employ more people over the next 12 months.

“The number of actual jobs created will not become evident until the Games is closer and a need for more personnel emerges,” he said.

“The fact that only three per cent plan to make cuts once again reflects general optimism.”

Sixty-eight per cent of business owners plan to maintain staff levels. But Prof Grant said some respondents expressed concerns that the Games were creating “false optimism”.

“Some proprietors at this stage find it difficult to define how they can capitalise on the Games despite the fact that they feel confident the Gold Coast as a whole will benefit,” he said.

Respondents expressed neutral to positive sentiments on the performance of tourism, property and retail sectors from June to August. President of the Gold Coast and Hinterland Business Alliance Bob Janssen said neutral sentiment for the period covering the end of FY17 were unsurprising.

“Businesses will assess the financial year and budget for the year ahead and confidence will be subject to impact of the Federal Budget and the possibility of an early state election,” he said.