NEW HOTELS KEY TO GOLD COAST TOURISM SUCCESS

The Gold Coast badly needs another six-star hotel and at least two other luxury international hotels, says Tourism Minister Margaret Keech.

Mrs Keech said a renaissance of tourism on the Gold Coast made the region an even more attractive destination for tourism investment.

“I certainly was not surprised when a global survey conducted by Jones Lang LaSalle identified the Gold Coast as top of the hotels investment list in the Asia Pacific,” she said.

“The report indicated there would be tremendous capital growth in Gold Coast hotels but that there was a shortage of stock on the market, and a reticence to build new hotels.

“The Gold Coast is the holiday capital of Australia – always has been and always will be.

“However, in recent years we have seen a shift towards serviced apartments and this has resulted in a growing need for high quality hotel room stock.

“The challenge for the Government, and for the industry, is to ensure we have appropriate infrastructure to cater for tourist needs. If visitors want luxury accommodation, we must provide it.

“We have the six-star Palazzo Versace and other quality hotels on the Coast, but we are now seeing now is the time for new infrastructure.

“If it means we have to chase potential investors, and then convince them to invest their dollars in new hotels on the Gold Coast, then that’s what we must do.”

Mrs Keech said investment in tourism infrastructure, including hotels, was vital to the long-term future of the industry.

“If we are to tap into the enormous tourism opportunities that will be presented over the next decade and beyond, we need to be laying the foundations now,” she said.

“Our industry has limitless potential in a fierce global market, and we have to plan carefully to ensure we continue to develop our tourism infrastructure to address the ever-increasing demand.

“The Beattie Government’s Queensland Tourism Strategy (QTS) establishes the way forward.”

Mrs Keech said investment and infrastructure plans would be developed for all regions, to identify product, public and private sector infrastructure and investment requirements and opportunities.

The regional plans would feed into a Queensland Tourism Investment and Infrastructure Plan that details statewide investment and infrastructure needs and opportunities.

“We will establish a Tourism Investment Attraction Group to facilitate private investment opportunities identified,” Mrs Keech said.

“This group will harness the resources of private investment. It will provide a single point of entry for potential investors and identify and progress proposals for the development of iconic attractions and infrastructure.

“It will also provide advice on investment assistance and incentives and promote tourism as an investment opportunity to companies, international investors, investment houses, lending institutions and superannuation funds.”

Media contacts: David Smith 3225 1005 or Karla Steen 3224 2007