Councillors vote on future of tourism alliances as new Gold Coast super group considered
The Gold Coast is to get a super tourism body. The Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach alliances along with Connecting Southern Gold Coast will be wound up after a vote by councillors at a meeting of full council today.
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THE Gold Coast is to get a super tourism body.
The Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach alliances along with Connecting Southern Gold Coast will be wound up after a vote by councillors at a meeting of full council today.
Only veteran councillor Gary Baildon during debate cautioned against the move.
Cr Baildon reminded councillors of an old saying “that if it ain’t broke don’t change it”.
Cr Baildon and fellow veteran councillor Daphne McDonald were the only councillors to oppose the move which will create the new super tourism body.
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Mayor Tom Tate told the meeting: “I see Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach coming together as a major precinct. That way everyone is on the same team, we’re wearing the same guernsey.”
Cr Paul Taylor said the move had the support of the Broadbeach Alliance if the festivals like Blues and Groundwater continued.
Cr Gail O’Neill said the southern alliance was also supportive of the changes.
Major Events Gold Coast (MEGC) will be tasked to lift the high-value special events schedule from $183 million in 2017 (55 per cent full) to $457 million by 2025 (90 per cent).
However, it will mean the death of existing separate promotion bodies such as the Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach alliances and Southern Gold Coast.
The move is tipped to provide “up to $1 million in economies of scale benefits”.
In the biggest shake-up in the history of local tourism promotion boards, there will be a three-phase transition plan.
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Between December and June next year, MEGC will be created along with an interim board, new office location and amalgamation plan.
In the 12 months that follow, a permanent board and CED will be appointed, and new funding to be sorted by June 2020.
From July 2020 the Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach alliances along with Southern Gold Coast would be wound up with the MEGC starting permanent operation.
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