Gold Coast left out of Tourism Australia promotional videos

Tourism Australia has defended its decision to leave the Gold Coast out of promotional videos aimed at boosting domestic tourism.

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TOURISM Australia’s decision to leave the Gold Coast out of a new video promotion has been dubbed a “slap in the face” by Broadwater MP David Crisafulli.

The video series Experience Australia in 8D Sound created by the national tourism organisation has footage of 25 sites with audio and images to entice domestic travel.

The six videos include Northern Territory’s Uluru and Victoria’s Great Ocean Road.

Queensland attractions feature heavily with Hinchinbrook Island National Park and Daintree Rainforest included, but no Gold Coast destinations.

Destinations included in Tourism Australia's 'Experience Australia in 8D Sound' marketing campaign.

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Mr Crisafulli said the Gold Coast’s omission was not only detrimental to the city but also to Tourism Australia’s promotion.

“A tourism campaign without the Gold Coast is like a pub without beer. It makes no sense,” he said.

“Queensland is blessed with tourism offerings, but the Gold Coast is front and centre for them. When people think about Queensland tourism, they think the Gold Coast, from our beautiful beaches and hinterland parks to the theme parks.”

LNP member for Broadwater David Crisafulli. Picture: Glenn Hunt.

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Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan initially labelled Tourism Australia’s decision not to include the Gold Coast as a “terrible mistake”, the ABC reported, but said on Monday: “We have spoken to Tourism Australia and discussed the Gold Coast being included.

“They have ensured us the Gold Coast will be included going forward. We have updated footage for them to use and they will include that in upcoming campaigns.

“They understand no Gold Coast means no tourism, and us being left off this campaign doesn’t mean they’re not aware how important the region is to tourism.”

Asked what he would like to see included by Tourism Australia, Mr Donovan said the whole city.

Destination Gold Coast boss Paul Donovan. Picture: Tertius Pickard

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“We want to see all of the Gold Coast from Coolangatta north included and that will be corrected moving forward,” he said.

On Friday Mr Donovan told the ABC he was looking for why the Gold Coast did not feature.

“I can assure that we will be talking at the most senior levels inside Tourism Australia, alerting them to why they haven’t featured the most important tourist destination in Australia for Australians and for all international visitors,” he told the ABC.

“I believe it would be a mistake, but a terrible mistake from where I sit.

“This is the first time that they [Tourism Australia] have embarked on domestic tourism marketing for a long time because of the international position with the borders closed.”

A Tourism Australia spokesperson said: “As one of Australia’s most popular tourism destinations, the Gold Coast has always featured extensively across our campaigns.

GCB House and Land feature - Gold Coast generic

“The 8D videos we released three weeks ago are not a new campaign, but are part of our ongoing activities, of which there are many. Tourism Australia will be rolling out more initiatives in the coming weeks and months which will of course feature the Gold Coast and Queensland more broadly.

“We’re pleased to say the Gold Coast is featured in the teaser video voiced over by Hamish Blake that we released on social media just over a week ago, as part of our current Holiday Here This Year campaign.”

Village Roadshow CEO Bikash Randhawa said after seeing the video he wasn’t too concerned.

“Not many cities were included, Melbourne and Sydney aren’t in it,” he said.

“I don’t think any tourism companies were contacted by the looks of what has been included.”

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