Entertainment and sports events pump $80m into Qld economy

Over $80 million will be pumped into Queensland’s economy this summer, thanks to a monster line-up of events.

THEY are the summertime blockbusters you will not see at the cinemas.

Over $80 million will be pumped into Queensland’s economy this summer, thanks to a monster line-up of events.

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The list includes the Woodford Folk Festival, Magic Millions Carnival, Brisbane International tennis tournament, Eurovision: Australia Decides talent contest and the Australian PGA Championship golf tournament, which wraps up today.

Events have become big business in tourism circles and the potential growth was seen as a key factor in the merger of Tourism Queensland and Events Queensland in 2012.

Standalone events, such as an Ashes cricket match or last year’s Battle of Brisbane boxing spectacular, can deliver thousands of tourists and millions of dollars to a destination in a single weekend, creating huge growth spurts normal visitation levels are unable to match.

Friday night’s Jeff Horn-Anthony Mundine face-off helped put Brisbane on the boxing map. Picture: Darren England/AAP

Marc Leishman plays from the bunker at the 2018 Australia PGA Championship at Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast on Thursday. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Almost a dozen major events around Queensland before the end of summer are expected to draw 400,000 visitor nights and generate $80 million, which is an increase of $15 million on last summer’s calendar.

State Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the summer of events would deliver strong returns for the state’s tourism industry.

“This summer will deliver another big economic return for Queensland’s economy,” she said.

“These figures just go to show we’ve nailed the formula for events.

“The Government invests in major events because they are proven to lure more visitors and create more tourism jobs in Queensland.

“We’re not just introducing new events, we’re finding new ways to grow existing events that already deliver a strong return for our economy,” Ms Jones said.

The state’s 12-month events calendar is expected to generate more than $800 million of economic activity for Queensland.

Saturday Disney host Candice Dixon cuddles a koala at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Picture: Adam Head

Candice at the sanctuary when aged 10

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MEMORY Lane is emerging as one of tourism’s hottest ­destinations.

A study from online travel company HomeStay has found that 83 per cent of Queenslanders have been inspired to rediscover previous places based on fond memories.

The wave of nostalgia extends to destinations, attractions and experiences, including everything from staying in a particular beach shack to a backyard barbie.

The HomeAway 2018 Holiday Report surveyed 1250 Australians aged over 18 with the surprising results that millennials were more enthusiastic than any other generation in revisiting nostalgic destinations.

While 77 per cent of respondents wanted to recreate an earlier holiday, 84 per cent of Millennials felt that way.

Millennials, loosely considered as those in their 20s and early 30s, were also more likely to view holidays as a chance to digitally detox (51 per cent) and view a family holiday as their favourite vacation.

The Sunshine State is bursting with tourism icons, ranging from the Big Pineapple to Gold Coast theme parks where generations of Queensland kids have made holiday memories.

TV presenter Candice Dixon has travelled all over the world but said she still took great joy from her own childhood holidays to places like Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

“I have such fond memories of Currumbin and still have really clear memories of the day I was picked out of the audience to be a simulated snake bite victim when I was about 10,” she said.

“I think that’s what made me want to go and get a photo holding a snake later in the day.”