HOLIDAY IN BACKYARD
GOLD Coasters are being encouraged to holiday at home as part of a tourism industry fightback against the impact of the coronavirus.
Chloe Hilton and her sons Cooper, 7, and Archie, 4, were quick to take up the challenge, enjoying a staycation at Currumbin Beach over the weekend.
THE city’s tourism boss is urging locals to book a staycation instead of travelling elsewhere following estimates the coronavirus crisis has already cost the GlitterSstrip $500 million in revenue.
Destination Gold Coast chief executive Annaliese Battista has joined a chorus of state leaders pleading with Queenslanders to throw their support behind the local economies in a new campaign encouraging them to holiday at home.
“It’s time locals discovered the hidden gems located throughout the Gold Coast by holidaying locally, there’s so much on offer,” Ms Battista said.
“Right now is the perfect time because savvy local businesses that are more reliant on international visitors have adjusted their pricing to entice locals and meet the market so it’s a win for Gold Coasters.”
Ms Battista’s plea comes on the back of reports from the Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) that predicts the ongoing coronavirus outbreak is set to hit the Australian visit economy much harder than SARS.
It estimates that if the virus isn’t contained within the next three-to-six months there’ll be a 40 per cent drop in international visitors from January to June compared to the same time last year. This equates to a loss of 1.8 million tourists. And making assumptions that tourism jobs are lost permanently for at least a 12-month period, the organisation predicts staffing reductions may result in up to 133,200 job losses leading to up to $5.3 billion in lost salaries and wages.
Ms Battista said Destination Gold Coast had “unashamedly gone back to very basic messaging” in its marketing campaigns in attempts to lure families in its key markets of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and New Zealand.
“We profiled all the things that families love about the Gold Coast, the beaches, the Hinterland, our casual dining options, the laid-back lifestyle, the theme parks and some of the 130 experiences available here,” she said.
“And while we did experience a significant drop off from February 1 to 16 we are delighted to report that on the back of significant marketing efforts from February 16 to 22 we were back to precoronavirus figures.”
Tugun local Chloe Hilton and sons Cooper, 7 and Archie, 4, headed to Currumbin Beach for a “staycation” while Chloe is on maternity leave.
“We have the world’s best beaches, and everything here with the most beautiful locations. Why would you want to go anywhere else when everyday here is like a holiday?”