Revealed: How the Ekka showday holiday will be a huge tourism boost for the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is poised to be a huge winner from Brisbane’s loss of the Ekka during lockdown with the show holiday moved for an extended Spring break.

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THE Gold Coast is poised to be a huge winner from Brisbane’s loss of the Ekka during lockdown with the show holiday moved for an extended Spring break.

Premier Annastacia on the Coast on Tuesday revealed how the show holiday will be moved to Friday, October 29, just days before the Melbourne Cup opening up a possible five-day break for workers.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on the Gold Coast. Picture: Tertius Pickard.

The Bulletin has been told the Coast will figure strongly in the Government’s tourism promotion for the break.

Businesses described the recent lockdown and border closures as “catastrophic” delivering a $110m tourism blow for the city.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has welcomed news saying the focus on “people’s day”

will be on Brisbane residents taking advantage of their public holiday and choosing a “beach escape’’.

“We want that beach to be in our city,’’ he said.

“It’s sad to see the EKKA Show cancelled in 2021 but it’s fantastic that Brisbane’s 1.2 million residents can now plan a long, long weekend here in our city.’’

The Ekka Show Holiday will move to create a long weekend in October – set to pump $130 million into Queensland’s economy and support the state’s tourism sector.

The People’s Day Public Holiday scheduled for 11 August had to be postponed as the State grappled with a new outbreak of the deadly delta strain earlier this month.

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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the People’s Day would become People’s Long Weekend on Friday 29 October.

“Ekka is where the bush meets the city. This gives the city the chance to go to the bush, the beach or the rainforest,” the Premier said.

“By creating a long weekend in October, we’re giving thousands of Queenslanders a chance to explore their own state.

“Our tourism industry has done it tough this year. The delta variant has had an impact on our economy and with less support from the Morrison Government, many businesses are struggling more than ever.

“I’m urging Queenslanders to use the People’s Long Weekend to support local businesses and local jobs. Please holiday at home on October 29.”

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Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said it was a “bit of bright news” for the southeast and urged residents across the southeast to come to the Gold Coast and support the city’s struggling sector.

“Nothing supports the industry more like business, like customers and this long weekend will help provide a sweet spot at the end of October,” he said.

“Industry told us that keeping this long weekend away from the schedule school holiday periods and major events and on a Friday was a good suggestion.

“Last year it saw $112 million extra go into the economy and we predict $130 million will be injected if people get out there and enjoy what Queensland has to offer.

“Don’t spend the weekend binging on Netflix, get out and see what it has to offer.”

Destination Gold Coast CEO Patricia O’Callaghan welcomed the state government’s announcement.

“We know from last year this was a highly successful weekend where our accommodation was at capacity, our tour operators were full and the hospitality sector benefited.

“It gives us some hope after what we have been through in the past 18 months, as well as the past two months.

“This is an industry which has taken a $3.2 billion hit from Covid and in the past two months along we have lost more than half a billion dollars.

“Having the opportunity to get some of that back is great and from our point of view we will work closely with the government to make the most of it.”

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