Destination Gold Coast hands out $1 million worth of vouchers for local attractions
Destination Gold Coast will today launch its $1 million campaign, handing out discounts to 10,000 locals to encourage them to holiday in their own backyard. Here’s how to access the deal.
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THE city’s top tourism body will today announce a new $1m initiative to encourage Gold Coast residents to “explore their own backyard”.
From Friday, 10,000 locals will get up to 50 per cent off by supporting 200 businesses hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The discount is valid up to $50.
Destination Gold Coast’s “Play Money for Gold Coasters” scheme is designed for locals to again fall in love with their city and help its $6bn tourism mecca get back on its feet.
Play money will be given to the first 10,000 residents who grab a digital promocode at DestinationGoldCoast.com/playmoney from 9am Friday.
The money can be spent on tours, attractions and experiences at participating businesses.
Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan said tapping into local marketing was a first for the peak tourism body. It is normally aligned to luring interstate or international holidaymakers.
“It is imperative during this extraordinary time to safeguard the economic sustainability of Gold Coast tourism and that includes lending a hand to struggling businesses who desperately need our support now and into the future,” he said.
GC Aqua Park is one of the 200 businesses that will be part of the initiative. Founder Daniel Watkins said if Gold Coasters got on board, they would realise how much the city had to offer.
“We all love getting away and exploring but people travel from across the world to come to the Gold Coast,” he said.
“Destination Gold Coast spend money promoting this amazing city to all parts of the globe, but now they’re targeting local and I think people will get the chance to find out how cool this place is.”
Gold Coast Watersports co-owner Kate Parker said her Mariners Cove business had been “hit hard” by the pandemic.
“We knew straight away the road to recovery was going to be a long one and the ripple effect within the industry has been devastating, but the operators are resilient and passionate which together is a strong force and I am optimistic about our future,” she said.
Mrs Parker, who runs Gold Coast Watersports with her husband Ky, said 95 per cent of their business was normally from people from outside the city but recently that had been changing.
“In recent weeks we’re meeting so many people from the Gold Coast or very close by,” she said.
“They all say they’re ticking off more fun bucket list items than ever before and how they should have done this earlier.
“The majority of the GC tourism businesses are family owned and run by locals themselves, which makes this campaign even more special. It’s the truest form of locals supporting locals you will get.”
Planet Chill in Paradise Resorts shut its ice-skating rink in March and reopened just before the September school holidays. Staff member Lucy Nelmes said the team used the time to renovate the venue and she was looking forward to fellow Gold Coasters experiencing the revamped facilities.
“It’s been great to hear the visitor’s feedback about our new look,” she said.
“We have mainly had in-house visitors using the facility, so it’d be great to have more locals book in and have a skate or use our new birthday room.”
Another business to benefit from the campaign is Seaway Kayaking Tours, which operates on all waterways between Biggera Waters and Main Beach.
“This is a great initiative and we are looking forward to taking locals out on the water,” managing director Patrizia Schenone Chazzin said.
“The waterways are a great way to explore the Coast.”
Matt Pryer and his three sons spent the day at the Southport park on Monday and said people needed to support local businesses in the current climate.
“Without these businesses the Gold Coast wouldn’t be the same place, so we need to get behind them and help out during these tough times,” he said.
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