Tourism fix key to Coast rebuilding

THE Gold Coast’s economic survival is dependent upon the recovery of its tourism sector, say industry leaders who pitched their post-coronavirus plans to the Premier late yesterday.

The situation is so dire the accommodation level, which is usually about 80 per cent at this time, is on the floor at just 7 per cent.

Destination Gold Coast CEO Annaliese Battista says the sector is seeking a multipronged approach in the state’s “road to recovery’’ to survive the $3.3-4.3 billion hit to the local industry.

With tourism one of the city’s biggest employers, responsible for one in five Gold Coasters and 40 per cent of the region’s GDP, Ms Battista said it was imperative the industry sat front and centre of any recovery plan.

“The city of the Gold Coast has been affected to a much higher proportion by COVID-19 than any other city in Australia, because of our major industries,” she said.

“So we certainly need a fair share of support from all levels of government. That includes the state.”

In the major meeting yesterday with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk before the rollout of the statewide recovery plan, Ms Battista said the local sector was in agreement on three issues.

These were:

● Restarting drive tourism, with reopening the state border and ending the 50km travel bubble rule.

● A larger and “fairer” share of the state marketing funding, proportionate to the size of the sector.

● A redirection of international flight subsidies to domestic routes, to help bolster domestic travel to the Gold Coast.

“We are not medical experts, so these are changes we are advocating for only when it is safe to do so,” Ms Battista said.

“In saying that, however, I do believe we need to be clear in our communication with businesses and mark out where we are headed to weeks ahead.

“This way employers can plan staffing levels, product and marketing around the expected policy changes, instead of adapting to the announcement of new policies each week.”

Ms Battista said there was an expected drop of 8-10 million tourists due to the crisis. Last year, the city had welcomed 14.2 million.

“Currently we are really talking dire straits. For the first time ever we have seen the closure of our airport, the casino, the theme parks,’’ she said.

“Accommodation would ordinarily be sitting at around 80 per cent occupation, and is now at 7 per cent.

“Literally billions in assets are not producing anything for our economy.

“Everything hangs on how the revival is led, as everything hangs on the contribution tourism makes.”

Ms Battista said the future of the Gold Coast would become clear on the release of the State Government's road to recovery later today.

The Premier is expected to comment on the plans, following a meeting with the National Cabinet.

“Tourism is a driving force in our state’s economy and we’re working with industry leaders to plan their COVIDsafe recovery,” Ms Palaszczuk posted online following the meeting with Gold Coast leaders yesterday.

WE ARE REALLY TALKING DIRE STRAITS … EVERYTHING HANGS ON HOW THE REVIVAL IS LED, AS EVERYTHING HANGS ON THE CONTRIBUTION TOURISM MAKES

DESTINATION GOLD COAST CEO ANNALIESE BATTISTA