Attractions the key to securing tourists

THEME parks are an intrinsic part of the Gold Coast’s economy and are a good barometer for the strength of the city as a whole. Going back to the early days of Marineland and Magic Mountain, it is true to say that their success was our success.

The theme parks, among the Gold Coast’s biggest employers, were crippled by Covid-19 and struggled to recover through border closures and continued outbreaks of the virus.

Now, with numbers bouncing back and long-awaited attractions like New Atlantis finally opening, the tide is beginning to turn.

News that Village Roadshow bigwig Bikash Randhawa is in the US shopping for the city’s next big attraction is heartening and gives hope the city will have new rides to look forward to.

While it will be several years before any prospective attraction opens, knowing there is more to come adds certainty to people planning holidays that they will not be coming only to be greeted by the same old things.

The tourism industry is ultracompetitive in the post-2020 environment and the Gold Coast is facing a stiff battle to get visitors back to the city.

New attractions are a great magnet and a pipeline of activity is to be welcomed.

Also important for the future will be a tourism masterplan to ensure there are not further event double-ups on weekends.

City leaders all agree it is important to have a broad calendar of events rather than packing multiple gatherings into the same weekend.

The city must work together to ensure this calendar works well.

Teamwork makes the dream work.