MATT BEKIER

THE RIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE IS VITAL IF CITY TO SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES

The Gold Coast is a city of extraordinary potential.

It has a tourism opportunity that is compelling, immediate and undeniable.

The forecasts, supported by research and recent data, have been consistent. Population and tourism are on a significant and sustainable long-term growth curve.

They are cornerstones that underpin The Star Entertainment Group’s confidence in the Gold Coast and its future.

Population expansion from local growth, interstate and overseas migration, with more domestic and international tourists layered over the top, create an exciting platform for business activity and jobs.

Add to the mix the evolution and maturation of the city and it’s a cocktail for prosperity and success.

However, forecasts alone will not deliver tangible benefits or elevate the city to the national pre-eminence it clearly deserves.

Planning and implementing the necessary infrastructure to leverage the opportunities at hand are critical to good outcomes.

So, we welcome this campaign by the Gold Coast Bulletin.

Shining a light on what the city needs, and the direction it needs to follow to fully leverage its future, provides an ideal forum for responsible discussion and debate.

Transport, infrastructure, and connectivity are issues which will impact us all as this city moves into a prolonged growth phase.

How seamlessly the Gold Coast operates in the future, and the value proposition it can deliver to its residents and visitors, will be determined by today’s solutions and actions.

If I call out one area of concern from the tourism perspective, it is the need for more hotel rooms to meet an ever-rising demand for high-end accommodation, especially from international visitors.

This is an issue our company is trying to assist in closing.

There is no doubt we are at the beginning of a golden age in tourism.

More importantly, a Golden Age for the Gold Coast.

‘We are at the beginning of a golden age in tourism’