Bold bid for events to provide bonanza

QUEENSLAND will make a bold bid for more blockbuster events to leverage one of tourism’s fastest-growing sectors against the backlash of bushfires, drought and the coronavirus.

Deals to secure major international events are expected within days in a move to beefup a calendar which Tourism and Events Queensland estimates was worth more than $880 million to the state’s economy last year.

Tourism leaders are also aggressively chasing other marque events which industry officials are hoping will help soften the blow of the China travel ban and other collateral damage caused by the coronavirus outbreak with an advertising blitz already underway in southern states to encourage travellers to experience a Queensland event this year.

TEQ’S events calendar – which only includes events sponsored or supported by the industry body, has grown by more than $500 million in the past five years.

The total value of events, including those not supported by TEQ, such as some major music concerts and tours, is already worth more than $1 billion a year.

TEQ is expected to confirm a major international soccer tournament for Queensland featuring giants from the English Premier League, while there are also moves for an AFL match slated for Shanghai in China to be relocated to Cairns.

Townsville accommodation providers are virtually bursting ahead of the historic NRL game at the city’s new Queensland Country Bank Stadium, while later this month some of the world’s biggest country music stars will headline CMC Rocks at Willowbank raceway near Ipswich.

NRL Magic Round, the Big Red Bash and the Gold Coast Marathon are other massive money spinners already locked in for later in the year.

Queensland Tourism Minister Kate Jones said events were playing an increasingly large role in enticing visitation.