GC 2.0
Tourism bigwigs say we need at least one of these game-changing attractions now to make our city greater
TOURISM industry heavyweights say it is crucial the Gold Coast reinvents itself with new major attractions to ensure the city is a tourism mecca for the next wave of visitors.
Destination Gold Coast boss Paul Donovan has outlined a top 10 wishlist he says is pivotal to the city’s evolution.
High on the agenda is a Hinterland cableway, a dive wreck and a boutique sports stadium.
The veteran city leader said experiences were the key to tourism success on the Coast.
“The Gold Coast is about memories really – we want to deliver memories for tourists about their experiences and we need to create more unique experiences,” he said.
Aside from the shiny new attractions, Mr Donovan said it was paramount the congested M1 be sorted: “This is our biggest risk. People will still come but there is so much discussion about the M1 that it may turn people off – so that is big.”
OUR future – GC 2.0 – is even more of a visitor’s paradise than the Australian tourism capital is now but city leaders say new attractions are critical for growth.
Senior tourism industry figures say the city needs a major new visitor attraction at least once every decade to renew interstate and international enthusiasm for the Gold Coast. It also acts as catalyst for tourism growth and spinoffs for existing attractions.
In conjunction with Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan, the Gold Coast Bulletin has distilled a top 10 list of big-ticket gamechanging additions to the city landscape which will boost its tourism appeal significantly.
The list has: a cruise ship terminal; dive wreck; Hinterland cable car; network of walking tracks with national parks opened up to overnight stays; Star Entertainment Group’s $2 billion, seven-tower masterplan at its Broadbeach site; Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre expansion; commercialisation of pockets of Gold Coast beaches; boutique 10,000 to 15,000-person sporting/concert stadium; Songcheng theme park at Nerang; and red tape cut to aid foreign superyacht charters in Australian waters without hefty GST bond payments.
“The Gold Coast is about memories really – we want to deliver memories for tourists about their experiences and we need to create more unique experiences,” Mr Donovan said.
“Gold Coast visitor numbers grew double the Queensland growth last year and that was terrrifc at eight per cent compared to four but we need to improve and refresh the offering.
“People say ‘What will the cruise ship terminal do?’. Well if we don’t have a cruise ship terminal, we’ll never know. But a big percentage of our traditional holiday makers to the Coast are now taking cruises.”
The Gold Coast Bulletin’s
Golden Age campaign reader survey found the city remains divided on the question of developing a cruise ship terminal and where, but is overwhelmingly behind a Hinterland cable car or gondola.
The survey revealed:
54 per cent of respondents are against a cruise ship terminal at The Spit, 46 per cent in support.
54 per cent are against a cruise ship terminal elsewhere, 46 per cent in support.
75 per cent of respondents support a Hinterland cable car, with 25 per cent against.
The Golden Age survey results also found:
18 per cent of respondents felt expansion of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre is a “high” priority.
34 per cent feel it is a “medium” priority followed by 17 per cent (“low”), and 15 per cent each for both “very high” and “not needed”;
Respondents feel priority for a new tourist attraction is “medium” (31 per cent), “very high” (24 per cent), “high” (23 per cent), “low” (14 per cent), “not needed” (nine per cent).
Asked what a new attraction should be, respondents voted “eco-tourism” (33 per cent), “cruise ship terminal (25 per cent), “relaxationbased” (13 per cent), “adventure-based” (10 per cent), “in theme parks” (six per cent), “other” (five per cent), “casino” (four per cent), “new resorts” (four per cent).
Mr Donovan said: “I have 12
things I think are critical to drive exponential growth we need going forward. We need to work on several of the 12 items I have at the same time.”
On top of the Bulletin top 10 wishlist, Mr Donovan wants The Spit masterplan being considered by State Government and light rail’s extension to Gold Coast Airport prioritised.
“We need the dive wreck, the cable car up into the Hinterland, the walking tracks, the cruise ship terminal, commercialisation of the beaches and we need to keep refreshing a lot of the things which have driven the Gold Coast like the theme parks and are critical.”
The famed theme parks have had plenty of recent additions with major investment by Village Roadshow.
The operator of Sea World, MovieWorld and Wet ’n’ Wild added its $30 million DC HyperCoaster in September. The neighbouring new $35 million TopGolf attraction is an Australian first.
Gold Coast-based Federal Tourism Minister Steven Ciobo said the city as a tourism brand was still very strong in some markets but not others.
“We have incredible strength in the Middle East, parts of China but the world is getting smaller every day. There are point-to-point flights everywhere. It reinforces we absolutely must continue to invest in new infrastructure,” Mr Ciobo said.
“My concern is we are seeing expenditure not growing.
“That’s a consequence of
not having enough new product and it will be part of the challenge for the incoming Destination Gold Coast CEO.
“But there are really encouraging signs – hundreds of millions in investment in Pacific Fair, Star’s proposed investment in the billions and tens of millions by Village Roadshow in its theme parks – all will help boost spend in our city.”
Destination Gold Coast executive Dean Gould said an important reason to always “add something new is the Gold Coast relies on repeat visitors”.
“On average, Australians holiday two to three times a year. It is really important to spice up their experience of the Gold Coast,” he said.
TOURISM is the lifeblood of the Gold Coast economy and it is important we give it the resources needed to make us a greater city. Consider these figures:
* Overall, tourism pumps $5 billion into the Gold Coast each year.
* That engine room is fuelled by more than 46,000 jobs, from thousands of small businesses.
* More than 1.06 million international visitors hit the Gold Coast last year, a four per cent jump on the previous year. While here, they spent $1.2 billion.
It is no surprise therefore that tourism bigwigs Paul Donovan say it is paramount the city needs new major attractions every decade to maximise — and re-energise — the good work done in turning this city into a global tourism mecca.
Over the past week, the Bulletin’s Golden Age campaign revealed the staggering impact lagging transport infrastructure is having on commuters and visitors.
As part of our look at tourism this week, we explore the big-ticket items needed for GC 2.0.
We will reveal more readers’ views about tourism, the key challenges, and opportunities at industry pillars such as the Gold Coast Airport.
We will also drill down on items in today's wishlist, including how the needs of locals and tourists are changing, and how we can adapt to meet them.
The purpose of today’s coverage, and beyond, is to inspire city leaders and the broader public to what is possible for our city’s future.
We need to reach for the stars — and should always be reaching for the stars to continue to improve what this city stands for and has to offer so we can continue to lure millions of visitors.
It’s that attitude that has made us one of the most dynamic and fastest growing cities in the country for the past decade.
Tourism really is the economic jewel in the Gold Coast’s crown and we have to keep it polished.