Gold Coast second casino: the inside tourism report which told the Government it must roll the dice.

A report into how well the Gold Coast was doing was the catalyst for a global tourism hub push, according to confidential research.

THE Palaszczuk Government was warned the Gold Coast had fallen behind tourism rivals and would only be reignited by a new world-class tourist attraction and casino resort.

In confidential market-sounding research, consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) delivered a blunt assessment that the Coast’s $5 billion tourism industry was experiencing reduced market share as Brisbane built the $3.6 billion Queens Wharf and Cairns fast tracked a global tourism hub (GTH).

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The Gold Coast needs more attractions. Picture: John Gass

It estimated tourism was a sixth of the Coast’s economy, providing 26,000 direct jobs, 15,000 indirect jobs, and supporting more than 3000 businesses.

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New developments like Jewel and The Star “will not provide the step-change in capacity and experience to significantly alter the Gold Coast trajectory in the near term”.

The key findings in the independent research provided to the State Tourism Department include:

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The Jewel development is not enough to attract more tourists. Picture Glenn Hampson.

● The average length of stay of domestic visitors on the Coast has dropped 18 per cent, which compares to an 11 per cent decrease for Queensland and eight per cent decline Australia-wide.

● Low-cost travel options mean Bali, Thailand and Fiji are more attractive.

● Despite The Star, theme parks and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, the city “is lacking innovative, attractive and new experiences and infrastructure that promote the Gold Coast’s natural offerings”.

Tourism Research Australia surveying found only five per cent of visitors said the main reason they visited the Coast was for “the variety of things to see and do”.

“This indicates that the Gold Coast is not providing enough contemporary tourism attractions to meet modern tourists’ expectations,” the PWC report said.

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Tourism Minister Kate Jones reveals the Government will go to the market for a global tourism hub. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Only 11 per cent of visitors were going to the beach and the majority wanted broader natural attractions.

“It is no longer sufficient to assume that tourists will be drawn to the Gold Coast purely for its beaches and landscape without significant investment in contemporary infrastructure,” the PWC report added.

Consortiums bidding for a second casino licence have similar research aware that the Coast opened its last theme park in 1986.

A GTH could include a world-class attraction, an entertainment centre and other improved public services like a ferry service, they say.

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Aerial view of Carey Park at Southport, a favoured GTH site. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

“The best example I can give of a similar situation is Singapore,” a casino insider said. “They realised that unless they developed (some tourism infrastructure) they would become a transit stop.

“They have spent millions. They have a marine-based aquarium, Gardens by the Bay, Universal Studios, and now Singapore is a three-day stop. Jewel and The Star are not properties that attract people. They provide accommodation.”

PWC presented to the government the following six options for the tourism industry:

● Allow the city to develop without intervention and co-ordination.

● Support a broad range of initiatives (non-infrastructure) around the Coast.

● A global tourism hub.

● A global tourism hub at a strategic location.

● Develop smaller tourism projects.

● Redevelop existing tourism infrastructure and offerings.

The Vomitron site in central Surfers Paradise.

Consultants ruled out doing nothing because it would not fix the Coast’s reduced market share. To just focus on smaller projects, also would not create the required growth.

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“A GTH would achieve the benefits sought, promote the Gold Coast as a world-class tourist destination, and help the Gold Coast grow as a globally competitive location,” the PWC report said.

PWC identified 11 sites for a GTH which remain secret but a report to council shows a top three including “merged sites at Southport”.

The Bulletin understands the top three are Southport’s Carey Park, the privately owned Vomitron site in Surfers Paradise and another parcel of land on the western side of Gold Coast Highway at Broadbeach just south of the tram station.

Carey Park, despite the opposition from residents and LNP MPs, is favoured by developers because it is large enough, close to light rail and offers the potential for a ferry service.