Christmas storm Gold Coast: $2.5m rescue plan for battered tourism sector

More than $2.5m will be injected into the Gold Coast tourism industry to help it bounce back from the aftermath of the Christmas night storm.

The state government will inject $2.5m into getting the Gold Coast tourism sector back on track after a nightmare storm-affected Christmas and new year period.

Tourists and locals will be given access to more than 50,000 vouchers to use on experiences including theme parks across the city as part of the GC Summer FUNds initiative.

It has been developed by the government, Experience Gold Coast (EGC) and Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) to help the industry and traders bounce back.

Premier Steven Miles said it was critical to help businesses not lose out after the natural disasters.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“The Gold Coast is one of Queensland’s tourism hot spots because of the world class attractions and experiences on offer,” he said.

“This summer our tourism operators have been some of the hardest hit here and in Cairns, so it’s time we help them get back on their feet.

“If you’ve been thinking of visiting Queensland, why not get take a trip to the GC with some Summer FUNds in your pocket. That is good news for the economy, good news for jobs and, of course, good news for tourism operators.”

Daniel Watt from Leeton NSW tried to show up the kids on the Flow Rider after Christmas. Picture Glenn Hampson

While most of the city has remained open despite the storms which hit on Christmas night, “booking hesitancy” has been a major issue.

Mayor Tom Tate said the FUNds concept had previously helped boost the sector during Covid when tourism essentially closed down.

“This is a proven strategy that we know works well to get locals and visitors alike exploring their own backyard and the immediate injection will help to stimulate our economic recovery,” he said.

“Queenslanders, there’s never been a better time to jump onto that Gold Coast experience you’ve always wanted to do and show your support.”

EGC CEO John Warn said the industry and the businesses which form part of it needed support.

Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“Our industry demonstrates its resilience time and again but during this peak tourism season it needs our support more than ever as many operators begin the task of rebuilding,” he said.

“This initiative is our way of getting Queenslanders behind our experience-based operators who we know were the most impacted by cancellations during what was anticipated to be our biggest summer since 2019.”

The Christmas night storm forced the closure of all theme parks excluding Sea World after they were damaged or lost power.

Paradise Country and its farmstay will both finally reopen on January 26 after more than a month of repairs.

Top Golf, which received catastrophic damage, remains closed.

Village Roadshow COO, Bikash Randhawa said the funding would “provide a much-needed boost for the industry.

“With a limited allocation of promotional codes available, I’d encourage people to get in early to avoid missing out,” he said.