Australia‘s unique story an attraction in its own right
PAUL Weston’s article about the vacant land on The Spit (GCB, 21/2) raises many thought provoking issues.
Let’s face it – we haven’t produced a new tourist attraction for 20 years since Infinity opened in Surfers Paradise.
And rollercoaster rides are a dime a dozen in the cities our Asian visitors come from. Asia is undoubtedly our biggest potential growth market in the future, and we are offering nothing special.
So what can we provide that they can’t already get back home?
What do we have that is so unique that it can’t be replicated elsewhere? Australia of course! That is what they come here to see and to learn about.
We could showcase the unique Australian story from Captain Cook through the convicts, inland explorers, overland telegraph, stockmen and other achievements to the present day. Plus the history and ancient culture of our Aboriginal Australians.
We have so many fascinating and original stories to tell.
Put them all together on a site on The Spit and “The Story of Australia” would quickly become our major attraction, causing a surge in visitation.
Cairns has already shown what can be achieved with the Tjapukai dancers.
Village Roadshow has the resources to ensure it is done really well, though the concept is available to any of the tenderers for the State Government lease.
Another guaranteed attraction that Gold Coast has been crying out for for decades is a cableway to Springbrook. Again, Cairns has shown us the way with a much smaller audience.
Decades ago the Greens were against it and even some of the Springbrook residents.
But the road is still making it impossible for us to show off the riches we have in “green behind the gold”, and there are no plans to change that any time soon.
Perhaps the cableway’s time has finally come. These two new attractions could launch a new age of prosperity for Gold Coast tourism and all the many industries that rely upon it.
ALAN MIDWOOD, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE GOLD COAST DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION