Coronavirus: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk commits $2.4m to boost Gold Coast tourism industry

The Gold Coast will today receive a cash splash to lure tourists back to the beach and save our battered tourism industry from the coronavirus. But is it enough?

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk will today unveil $2.4 million for the Gold Coast to combat a coronavirus visitor wipe-out but the city tourism boss is underwhelmed.

Ms Palaszczuk on Tuesday morning visited the Gold Coast, in the grip of a tourism crisis, but at that stage no funding was on offer.

Asked at 10.40am for a plan to help the city recover from the unfolding tourism crisis, she said she would hopefully have “some announcements to make in the next week or so”.

Bulletin questions at 12.40pm pointed out $400-500 million in lost revenue in the past two weeks.

Her office replied at 2.51pm that she’d met Destination Gold Coast and stakeholders last week, was wondering what Federal Government was doing and repeated her morning response that “measures will be announced shortly.”

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Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at Rainbow Bay Surf Club on the Gold Coast. Picture: Scott Powick

Just 10 minutes later, her office revealed Ms Palaszczuk and Tourism Minister Kate Jones would unveil a $2.4 million injection for Destination Gold Coast to market internationally and interstate.

Ms Palaszczuk said: “Tourism is the cornerstone of the Gold Coast’s economy. There is no doubt coronavirus is the biggest threat.

“The Gold Coast is one of the most sought-after tourism destinations. It’s also an incredibly safe and welcoming place to visit. The funding will help us share that message.”

Destination Gold Coast CEO Ms Battista said: “Given the significant losses for Gold Coast’s tourism sector stemming from the coronavirus to date, estimated at up to $400 million, we had obviously hoped for a more substantial support package from the State Government.

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The Coast’s tourism industry is suffering at the hands of coronavirus

“That said, $2.4m will help marketing efforts to mitigate losses.”

Destination Gold Coast had already ramped up marketing campaign plans in core markets Melbourne, Brisbane Sydney and New Zealand, she said.

“There are still some details to be negotiated with the State Government. We’d hope the focus is not entirely on international marketing as foreshadowed in the announcement, as the biggest short-term wins will be in the domestic and NZ markets.”

Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the $2.4m was on top of the State Government’s $2 million tourism campaign unveiled last week to deliver an immediate shot-in-the-arm following coronavirus impacts.

“The package announced for the Gold Coast will allow locals to leverage the work overseas,” Ms Jones said.

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The coronavirus has cost the city as much as $500 million in the past two weeks. Picture: AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati

City leaders are awaiting a response to demands for the Commonwealth to match State funding. The Australian Tourism Industry Council is urging Federal Government double a $76 million tourism recovery package.

Ms Battista: “We’re at worst-case scenario right now. Traders say general revenue is down 15-20 per cent with some saying as much as 50 per cent all because of coronavirus. The China travel ban has not just impacted us as directly but also the many travellers who come here as the second stop on their trips after Sydney and Melbourne.”

Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon said the $2.4 million in funding for the Gold Coast would complement an $8 million funding injection for Tourism and Events Queensland to market the state in key international destinations like Japan, the US and New Zealand.

“The Federal Government collect 85 per cent of locals’ taxes and yet the Prime Minister Scott Morrison is missing in action, Ms Scanlon said.

“The LNP need to stop floundering and urgently announce funding to support our tourism industry during this tough time.”