Gold Coast tourism down $1 billion and counting due to coronavirus

New data has shown just how badly coronavirus has affected the Gold Coast’s economy, with one sector alone already $1 billion down.

THE coronavirus pandemic has crippled the Gold Coast’s $6 billion tourism industry but new data reveal just how strong the industry was before COVID-19 struck.

Data released today by Destination Gold Coast showed the number of tourists who visited the Coast in 2019 was up 13.5 per cent.

These figures showed the expenditure of tourists had gone up 4.1 per cent to $5.9 billion.

The data covers the 12 months to December 2019, ending just weeks before the COVID-19 crisis arrived in Australia in late January.

Within two weeks it was estimated the city had lost more than $500 million, with the number now topping more than $1 billion.

Destination Gold Coast CEO Annaliese Battista. Picture: Mike Batterham.

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Destination Gold Coast CEO Annaliese Battista the data showed the strength of the industry before the economic downturn

“At a minimum, COVID-19 has already cost Gold Coast’s tourism sector $1 billion, a figure that will increase by at least $310 million every month,” she said.

“At a time when the future of Gold Coast’s economy is so uncertain, we must draw strength and reassurance that the tourism sector will lead the local economy to recovery.

“Our number one priority as a city, after the immediate threat to our community’s health is neutralised, is to kick-start the recovery of the Gold Coast’s main economic driver to ensure our city bounces back fast.”

During the 2019 calendar year, international visitor expenditure dropped 5.4 per cent to $1.3 billion while visitation was up 3.1 per cent to 1.1 million.