Gold Coast tourism facing biggest shake-up as alliance futures determined

Councillors are about to vote on the future of several Gold Coast tourism and promotion boards. And they have a radical plan for how to replace them.

Jimmy Barnes on the Surfers Paradise LIVE Festival's main stage ... on the beachfront looking down Cavill Mall ... part of the local promotions. Picture: Surfersparadise.com

THE Gold Coast is headed for the biggest tourism promotion group changes ever planned.

The Bulletin can reveal councillors tomorrow will vote to end the city’s various promotion alliances and replace them with a mega tourism body.

An overwhelming majority of councillors are expected to support creating a new entity called Major Events Gold Coast (MEGC).

Crowds in front of the Surfers Paradise LIVE Festival's main stage, part of the precinct’s promotion. Picture: Surfersparadise.com

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The existing long term Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach alliances and Southern Gold Coast will be wound up.

In the biggest shake-up in the history of local tourism promotion boards, there will be a three-phase transition plan.

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.

Lee Kernaghan joins James Blundell onstage in Surf Parade on the final night of the 2018 Groundwater Country Music Festival, part of Broadbeach promotion.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate today responded to claims that a change to the structure of the city’s precinct alliances will mean poor outcomes.

“That’s incorrect. There are obvious benefits in bringing the alliances together to form an events company,’’ he said.

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“The financial savings from that can be poured back into more events as well as creating a better aligned annual calendar.

“It makes no sense when we have four alliances, some offering significant events on the same night as each other. You are splitting the market and causing confusion with visitors and locals.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate is strongly behind the tourism changes. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Having a single events company ensures efficiencies and through proper management, we can ensure the equal spread of significant events right throughout the city.’’