Marathon hits its stride

Race smashes tourism records as appeal grows

THE Gold Coast Marathon is now a runaway tourism success with visitor nights up 10 per cent this year – a far cry from the struggling event it was back in 2001.

The latest instalment three months ago attracted 56,875 attendees altogether, generating 87,618 visitor nights, a whopping 10 per cent up on last year, new figures reveal.

It generated an extra $1.5 million worth of economic impact injecting more than $25 million into the city coffers.

The two-day tourism winner attracted 41,974 visitors from interstate and overseas which included 31,973 travel companions of entrants.

The new statistics, commissioned by Tourism and Events Queensland, underline an impressive turnaround for a race which was limping back in 2001 with 8000 attendees.

It had been run by various private groups but the State Government back then appointed Events Management Queensland to revive it.

Events Management Queensland CEO Cameron Hart said within three years attendance surpassed the previous record of 12,000 – and it has been going up ever since: “It has gone from an event that was struggling with an unknown future.”

Tourism and Major Events Minister Kate Jones said it attracted a record number of entrants from South-East Asia and the United States this year.

“It has become an iconic event in its own right, attracting people who wouldn’t otherwise come to the Gold Coast and it is attracting people at what tends to be a quieter time of year,” she said.

“The success of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon helps solidify Queensland’s standing as a world-class staging ground for major events,” she said.

“(It) remains an attraction for international and interstate entrants and spectators from the Asia-Pacific region and USA, as well as from within Australia, providing a boost to local tourism not only for the Gold Coast but also the state.”

Mr Hart said the recent focus was on expanding its appeal to internationals and extending their stay: “So rather than just flying in, doing the event and flying out, we are now getting them taking a lot more time to promote other activities and doing things while here.”

The course, past the Broadwater and Pacific Ocean along the coast, was world-class with the Commonwealth Games adopting it in reverse, he said.

It is one of the world’s 25 elite Gold Label marathons, making it more attractive for internationals, he said.

The 40th Gold Coast Marathon is scheduled for June 30 and July 1 next year.