JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT: Glittering Gold Coast shines in Destination 2045

Glittering Gold Coast shines in Destination 2045 

• Gold Coast set to benefit from 20-year tourism plan Destination 2045.
• Preparing for influx of tourists for 2032 Games.
• Destination 2045 sets the stage for Queensland to become a global leader in ecotourism, a hub for mega events, and a well-connected international destination. 

The Crisafulli Government is delivering a fresh start for the Gold Coast as part of the newly unveiled 20-year tourism plan Destination 2045: Queensland’s Tourism Future.  

Destination 2045 is a visionary roadmap to supercharge the State’s tourism industry into a new era of growth, sustainability and global leadership. 

From Springbrook National Park upgrades to mega events, the coast is clear for the Gold Coast tourism industry to grow in the lead up to 2032 and beyond.  

Destination 2045 is set to deliver the following tourism projects in the Gold Coast: 

• Springbrook National Park: transforming Springbrook Plateau with upgrades to Purling Brook Falls precinct, lookouts, walking tracks, and a new visitor hub. 
• Queensland is home of events: attracting more mega events like the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 and building on the success of existing events such as the Gold Coast Marathon, the World Surfing Championships, and Blues on Broadbeach.
• Boosting business events:  growing the business events calendar to $2 billion, including in key established event locations like the Gold Coast.  
• Improved connectivity: new Connecting Queensland fund attracting new international flights to the Gold Coast, with better intrastate connections.   

Destination 2045 aims to more than double the value of visitor expenditure to Queensland’s economy to $84 billion in two decades, while employing 25 per cent more Queenslanders directly. 

The plan overturns a decade of failure by Labor on tourism and commits to reverse funding cuts planned under the former Government that would have reduced programs and services.  

The plan builds on tourism’s critical role in Queensland’s economy, which currently supports more than 270,000 jobs and generates $115m a day in visitor expenditure. About nine out of 10 tourism operations are small businesses. 

Premier David Crisafulli said the Gold Coast was already an iconic destination for tourism and the plan would accelerate industry development in ecotourism, events and attractions.  

“The Gold Coast is the home of the holiday in Queensland, and we are backing it with a bold plan for the next 20 years,” Premier Crisafulli said.  

“We are investing in what works, and will develop new tourism opportunities and create local jobs, all the while building on what locals love about this place so much.”