Coast must put best foot forward for tourism

Ayear ago this week the Gold Coast and Australia at large reopened to the world. The reopening of our borders after two years of closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic was a cause for celebration from the tourism sector and from the many who were separated from loved ones.

Now, a year on, the tourism sector has much to celebrate.

Despite a far more competitive market than pre-Covid, the Gold Coast has held its own, particularly with domestic visitors continuing the flood into the city.

International visitation hasn’t recovered quite as fast, owing to the slowness pre-Covid routes have been re-established.

Gold Coasters are travelling overseas more, while overseas visitors are not travelling here as much.

Destination Gold Coast’s 2032 strategy, due to be presented to councillors in coming weeks, will help chart the course for what needs to unfold in the next decade to ensure the city secures not just the projected $45bn but makes even more.

The Gold Coast will only get this one chance to co-host the Olympics, so it is incumbent we get this right and build upon what we already have.

Whether it is new attractions or reconnecting lapsed flights connecting the Coast to other nations, it is critical that we do it sooner rather than later.

As Destination Gold Coast interim CEO Karen Bolinger notes, we need to make the best possible impression at the closing ceremony of the 2028 Olympic Games.

This is when the world will get a preview of what is to come in 2032.

We must make them see why the Gold Coast is the best place in the world to visit.