Gold Coast attractions to whet Asian visitor appetites

Iconic Gold Coast attractions such as the Magic Millions, QDeck, the theme parks and tall-ships will soon be headlining Asian travel media following a visit by 10 journalists and photographers from China, Korea, New Zealand and Hong Kong, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle announced today.

Ms Boyle said the group of Asian travel writers visited south-east Queensland earlier this month as part of a media familiarisation organised by Tourism Queensland in partnership with Queensland Events and Gold Coast tourism operators.

“During the six day whirlwind visit the group stopped into the horse racing and Thoroughbred sales at the Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions,” she said.

“The Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions horse extravaganza is one of Queensland’s most eagerly anticipated racing carnivals attracting thousands of locals and visitors every year.

“Horse racing is very popular with Asian visitors and Queensland’s horse-racing carnivals are well respected within the industry.

“The future of Queensland tourism relies on media familiarisations such as these to help open doors for Queensland allowing us to generate international exposure and interest.

“Other activities featured on the group’s itinerary included a visit aboard a tall-ship, seeing the sights from QDeck, enjoying the theme parks and experiencing our local surf life savers hard at work.

“The group were also treated to a helicopter ride over the Gold Coast and getting to taste test some of the best wines in the region.”

Ms Boyle said given the current global economic climate there had never been a more important time for Queensland to ensure it remained the destination of choice.

“International tourism is a key economic driver and it is more important than ever for us to increase the international visibility and presence of Queensland destinations,” she said.

“The most recent international visitor statistics revealed that more than 810,000 international visitors spent $948 million on the Gold Coast in the year to September 2008.

“The Asian markets are particularly important to the Gold Coast.

“In the year ending September 2008, 103,000 visitors from China alone visited the Gold Coast, a 13 percent increase on the previous year, while in Queensland these Chinese visitors spent $203 million.”

Ms Boyle said the State Government and Tourism Queensland were committed to working with the Asian travel industry and airlines to ensure the Gold Coast continued to be recognised as a premier Australian tourism destination.

Further information

Minister’s Office – Marcus Taylor 3225 1005
Tourism Queensland – Kerri Anderson 3535 5010