Gold Coast tourism: Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan calls for city to unite amnid COVID-19

It’s been a tough year for many but one leading Gold Coast figure has issued a simple rally call for the future. READ THE FULL REPORT

THE Gold Coast’s tourism boss says it has never been more important to come together as a city to forge a roadmap for recovery from the devastating COVID-19 pandemic.

Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan, a panellist at next month’s Future Gold Coast forum – proudly presented by the Gold Coast Bulletin – said it would be a rare opportunity to gather in one room with those charged with mapping out the way forward.

Tickets are on sale for the evening dinner event which was a sellout last year.

“It’s important to get together because it has been a difficult year and we haven’t been able to do anything face to face a whole lot – and the people on the panel will be able to share their insights on the recovery road we are taking. It’s been difficult but it’s not a dead end – it’s a detour.”

Future Gold Coast Business Leaders Roundtable at Seascape Restaurant in Surfers Paradise in 2019. Picture: GLENN HAMPSON

The panel for the November 19 evening affair at Movie World’s Star Pavilion brings together those with their finger on the pulse of the city as it attempts to emerge from unprecedented economic restriction.

Star Entertainment Group chairman John O’Neill who has been at the centre of some of the city’s biggest debates is keynote speaker and will deliver the main address.

Destination Gold Coast boss Paul Donovan. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Industry leaders and panellists are Mayor Tom Tate, Ray White Surfers Paradise CEO Andrew Bell, Village Roadshow CEO Clark Kirby, Star Gold Coast general manager Jessica Mellor, Southern Cross University chief marketing officer Dean Gould and Mr Donovan. They will discuss a roadmap for recovery across tourism, education, real estate, manufacturing, health and entertainment.

Future Gold Coast tickets are $150 per person or $500 for a table of four. For sale at goldcoastbulletin.com.au/tickets.

FROM OCTOBER 9

TOURISM industry leaders are pleading with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to stick to a November 1 border reopening as NSW’s COVID-19 outbreak spreads.

NSW recorded three new cases of community transmission on Wednesday, and another five on Thursday. For the 28th consecutive day, Queensland recorded none.

NSW claimed to have traced the source of seven cases, leaving one outstanding.

The Queensland government gave its NSW counterparts 48 hours to trace the origins of Wednesday’s three cases. That deadline expires Friday morning.

Before the latest outbreak in NSW, Premier Palaszczuk had flagged a November 1 opening of the Queensland border, providing the southern state had not recorded any community transmission over a 28-day period.

Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan appealed directly to the Premier to reopen the borders on November 1.

Destination Gold Coast boss Paul Donovan. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“Please, please, please let’s keep it on track for November 1 because we cannot afford another delay,” he said.

“We need hope and November 1 is going to be a critical date for us. Let’s stick with it.”

Mr Donovan said another delay would further damage an already battered economy, particularly for the city’s strong accommodation and small business sector.

Accor Pacific chief executive Simon McGrath said he hoped Friday’s decision would be favourable.

“We hope the decision to safely reopen the Queensland borders is confirmed by the State Government,” he said.

“People need certainty the borders will reopen on November 1 before they will plan their holidays.

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Accor’s Simon McGrath. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Confirmation of this will provide a vital lifeline to the many thousands of Queenslanders employed by tourism.”

Ms Palaszczuk said she had not ruled out a November 1 reopening but the community transmission had put her on “high alert”.

“I’m not ruling anything out … there is another 24 hours for them to look at where those cases have come from,” she said Thursday.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“I’ve said all along, NSW is in school holidays, we’ll be watching that very closely over the next couple of weeks.

“We are going to be looking at those (NSW) cases. I’m looking forward to seeing what the Premier of NSW has to say.

“I’m the Premier of Queensland, and my job is to keep Queenslanders safe. If the NSW Premier is saying she’s on high alert about these new cases, I’m on high alert.”

The NSW/Queensland border. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Steve Holland

Ms Palaszczuk came under pressure from Prime Minister Scott Morrison who urged her to reopen the borders.

“I want to get Queenslanders back in jobs just like I want to get New South Wales people back in jobs but for that, you’ve got to be open,” he said.