Gold Coast sailing adventure firm goes under
The pandemic has claimed another victim on the Gold Coast tourism strip, with a business offering adventure daytrips, whale watching and private parties going into liquidation after 16 years in operation. The state’s tourism chief says more failures are inevitable.
QLD Business
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Liquidators have been appointed to a Gold Coast tourism business offering sailing day trips as the state’s top tourism chief warns more operators will go to the wall.
James Imray, of Rodgers Reidy, has taken control of Tallship Island Adventures, a family-run company launched in 2004 by tourism identities Bruce and Margaret Nicholls.
The business, which was based next to Marina Mirage, deployed a three-masted sailing vessel named after infamous pirate Sir Henry Morgan as well as a 32m catamaran.
Tallships offered day trips to the couple’s previously owned McClarens Landing Resort on South Stradbroke Island. The couple also provided parasailing, whale watching and private parties.
But it has been far from smooth sailing for the business for some time. ASIC earlier this year instigated a strike off action against the company, which was shut down earlier this year due to the pandemic squeeze.
Tallships faced a demand from the tax office back in 2016 which was settled and in 2018 another company linked to the Sealink Travel Group attempted to wind up the company.
Mr and Mrs Nicholls were not available for comment Monday morning. Comment has been sought from Rodgers Reidy.
Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind had warned of more jobs losses and business closures as the industry is starved of international and interstate tourists.
“While there are bright spots for tourist operators serving the local market, things are generally pretty grim,” said Mr Gschwind. ”There is a gaping hole in the market and we are looking at losses of $10 billion this year.”
He said for fortunes of the sector depended on the opening up of borders in a transparent manner.