Gold Coast hosts 300 top travel agents

THE Gold Coast has secured a major tourism convention bringing 300 of the most influential travel agents from Asia to the city for a week.

A plane at the airport. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

THE Gold Coast has secured a major tourism convention which will bring 300 of the most influential travel agents from Asia to the city for a week.

Tourism Australia’s 2018 Corroboree Asia trade event is coming to the Gold Coast for the first time, from August 26 to 31.

Checking out arrival and departure boards at the Gold Coast Airport at Bilinga.

The event will bring together 100 Australian tourism operators and 300 agents from priority Asian markets including China, Japan, Korea, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

The agents are all specialists in Australian trips and frontline sellers who work with the national tourism industry to sell within their markets.

The Gold Coast. Picture: Tourism and Events Queensland

Federal Tourism Minister Steve Ciobo said the host city of the event — being put on in partnership with Gold Coast Tourism, and Tourism and Events Queensland — would receive spin-offs from it.

“This is showcasing the Gold Coast to some of the most important influencers on people’s travel decisions,” Mr Ciobo said.

Gold Coast Airport.

“These agents are specialists and help to shape the itinerary of tens of thousands of travellers.”

Corroboree Asia is Tourism Australia’s leading agent training event giving them the opportunity to experience a range of travel experiences on the Gold Coast and nationwide.

In the 12 months to September, 2017, the Gold Coast had a 4.2 per cent growth in international visitation to a record 1.1 million.

First Tigerair plane direct from Gold Coast to Hobart comes into land at Hobart Airport. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.