Cash pool needed for next crisis

TOURISM identity Mike Winlaw says the city needs a “war chest” emergency fund that Destination Gold Coast can access when its lucrative tourism industry is in the grips of another economic crisis.

The Surfers Paradise Alliance CEO said he also planned to double the annual funding given to the Gold Coast’s top tourism body from about $15 million to $30 million.

Mr Winlaw (above), who hopes to be elected in the new council super division covering Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, said it was a matter of when, not if, another global crisis would hit “Australia’s iconic playground” and he wanted the city to be better prepared financially.

“What we know is that these crises will continue to come up from time to time and it’s crucial we are better prepared so that Destination Gold Coast has access to an emergency fund it can access quickly,” he said.

“It’s not acceptable that in this time when we are facing a potential crisis the CEO of Destination Gold Coast has to beg for money from the State Government.

“Money should be aside in a war chest so that when we have floods, bushfires or viruses we have got a system in place that allows our governing tourism body to access funds immediately instead of going to ask the Government for money.”

The Gold Coast tourism sector said it lost up to $500 million in the first two weeks of the coronavirus outbreak. The State Government this week agreed to pledge $2.4 million to redirect marketing to minimise the bleed.

Mr Winlaw said he would lobby fellow councillors to ensure they fully appreciated and understood the impacts and loss of jobs that occurred when the Gold Coast’s tourism industry was under threat.

“I feel quite passionate about this,” he said. “We must set people up and resource them appropriately to ensure we can move forward as a city when the next crisis occurs.”