Come on over
Stars spearhead tourism campaign
OLYMPIC swim champion Giaan Rooney wishes you were here, Australia. She joins fellow Gold Coaster and ex-NRL star Mat Rogers to feature in a letterbox drop of handwritten postcards encouraging visitors back to the Glitter Strip. The Destination Gold Coast campaign has already hit households in Brisbane and Sydney, highlighting the stars’ favourite must-dos on the Gold Coast.
HAND-WRITTEN postcards from Gold Coast celebrities will lob in letterboxes around the country in a tourism blitz aimed at bringing visitors back to the Glitter Strip.
Former NRL star Mat Rogers, former swimmer Giann Rooney and entertainment personality Charli Robinson are among those who have penned postcards of their favourite Gold Coast experiences, which will be sent to more than 3000 households in cities across Australia.
It is just one of the co-ordinated tourism campaigns across Queensland being rolled out to capitalise on the easing of coronavirus restrictions and the reopening of borders to all states bar Victoria.
Postcards in the Destination Gold Coast campaign have already been sent to households in Brisbane and Sydney, but those earmarked for Melbourne have been placed on hold until the state’s new outbreak is under control.
The “Wish you were here” messages have been designed to generate feelings of nostalgic memories from previous holidays families have spent on the Gold Coast.
Hundreds of iconic tourism operators, local personalities and even theme park characters have also taken part, sharing their favourite Gold Coast destinations and experiences.
Destination Gold Coast CEO Annaliese Battista said the Glitter Strip was ready to welcome back travellers with open arms and remind families of the reasons the city is Australia’s favourite playground.
“This pandemic has changed us as a society, and what we truly value – it has seen a renaissance of quality family time, which is exactly why Australians choose to holiday on the Gold Coast,” she said.
“We hope that, when families find these handwritten postcards in their mailboxes, they will reminisce about their past holiday experiences and childhood memories of the Gold Coast.
“By sharing heartfelt messages from our tourism operators, we wanted to give Aussies a taste of the incredible and unique experiences they can expect when they come back to play again.”
The Gold Coast last year drew a record 14.2 million visitors, but the travel ban brought the city’s $6 billion tourism juggernaut to its knees. Rooney said the Gold Coast offered plenty of surprises beyond the well-known beaches and bright lights. “There is so much to explore,” she said.