Promiseland festival at Doug Jennings Park hailed success and trade injection for Surfers Paradise

Tourism leaders and bar bosses are hailing a three-day music festival at The Spit - which attracted 20,000-25,000 people daily - for returning the Glitter Strip to its ‘prime’. FULL DETAILS

The massive three-day Promiseland festival has been hailed as a success with fears of traffic chaos at The Spit and poor punter behaviour failing to materialise.

Event manager David Rubin said audience numbers at Doug Jennings Park for the music festival, featuring American artists Metro Boomin and Busta Rhymes, were between 20,000 to 25,000 each day, with traffic and transport planning running smoothly.

“Planning went off without a hitch creating minimal impact on local residents and surrounding businesses,” Mr Rubin said.

“The audience were gracious, incredibly well behaved and enjoyed everything the Gold Coast had to offer.”

Promiseland organisers shared a four-step guide on how they will combat traffic congestion at Doug Jennings Park. Photo: Supplied

Organisers were under pressure after community calls for large concerts to be banned at The Spit after traffic gridlock and bus shortages caused mayhem earlier this year following a Fred Again concert that drew in more than 31,500 people to the area.

Ahead of the Friday to Sunday event last weekend, organisers worked with the waterways authority, traffic management and police to ensure smooth transition of people to and from the concert.

A four-step plan to prevent traffic chaos included free shuttle buses, road closures to ease congestion, a waiting lounge at the exit and HOPO ferries to Marina Mirage running every 15 minutes.

Experience Gold Coast head of visitor economy and corporate relations Rachel Hancock said the city tourism and marketing body was pleased to see Promiseland Festival’s transport plan successfully rolled out.

“We know how important Doug Jennings Park is for outdoor events on the Gold Coast,” she said.

Ms Hancock added the festival provided a “huge boost” to the local economy “in the millions” with more than 50 per cent of attendees coming from intestate and overseas.

“It has a really positive impact on local businesses including our cafes, bars and hotels with occupancy rates sitting around 90 per cent,” she said.

Mr Rubin said organisers were grateful for the hospitality the Gold Coast had shown the event along with its interstate and international visitors.

Crowds line-up outside Havana nightclub for Promiseland after-party 2024.

Hospitality giant Artesian held the official after-party partnership with Promiseland across its Gold Coast venues Cali Beach Club, The Beverly, Surfers Pavilion, The Bedroom and Havana Nightclub.

Managing director Matt Keegan said the collaboration saw record crowds across its Surfers venues with the strip hitting “pre-pandemic numbers.”

“We anticipated a serious and needed visitor economy injection over the long weekend,” he said.

“Seeing the queues reminded us of the Glitter Strip in its prime.”

Mr Keegan said the concentration of music fans in the one location translated into “much needed sales for surrounding businesses”.

Surfers Paradise operators have been calling for more large events to boost visitation in the area.

Artesian Hospitality’s Matt Keegan and Promiseland artist Yung Filly at Havana R&B Nightclub Surfers Paradise.

Earlier this year Cocktails nightclub owner Lino Girardi said the Gold Coast thrived on major events with the Surfers Paradise Licensed Venues Association lobby group proposing more events at quieter periods to keep the tourism hub alive.

Mr Keegan said the Glitter Strip was a “premiere destination” to host live music and Artesian along with the other lobby group members will continue to work towards “elevating and extending the success of events in Surfers Paradise”.

Originally published as Promiseland festival at Doug Jennings Park hailed success and trade injection for Surfers Paradise