Tourism operator calls for more marketing funding and attractions to boost Gold Coast industry
SUPERDUCK general manager Wayne Yurisch has a simple message for all sides of politics in the lead-up to the election — spend more money on tourism.
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SUPERDUCK general manager Wayne Yurisch has a simple message for all sides of Queensland politics before the election — spend more money on tourism.
The outspoken Mr Yurisch said yesterday his business was struggling and blamed a lack of new attractions and cuts to tourism marketing funding.
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“The Coast has turned into bogan-villa,” he said.
“There is no glitz and glamour here — we need to offer tourists more.”
Mr Yurisch also has a cruise ship terminal on his election wish list, saying it would bring thousands more visitors to the Gold Coast each week.
Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk delivered on one of his demands yesterday when she promised to boost the Tourism and Events Queensland budget by $40 million.
The extra money would be spent on destination marketing and on attracting more events to the state.
The Queensland Tourism Industry Council welcomed the ALP’s commitments to the area, particularly after the LNP government slashed TEQ funding by $4.9 million or 5 per cent last year.
QTIC chief executive Daniel Gschwind said spending needed to keep pace with NSW and Victoria if Queensland was going to be competitive.
“The southern states have upped the ante,” Mr Gschwind said.
“The extra $10 million a year that the ALP has promised is good, but we would have liked to see more.”
Ms Palaszczuk also pledged to appoint a senior member of Cabinet to the post of tourism minister if the ALP was elected.
Mr Gschwind said tourism was a big economic driver in the state and deserved a senior seat at the Cabinet table, which it had not had under the LNP.
“We want tourism to have the prominence it deserves,” he said.
Ms Palaszczuk said the ALP would “revitalise and expand tourism” if it was elected into government. “Our funding commitment will give the tourism industry the stability it needs to attract new events and promote Queensland as a world-class holiday destination,” she said.
The ALP’s tourism policy included $100 million to protect the Great Barrier Reef and the promise not to introduce a bed tax as well.
The LNP is yet to unveil its tourism policy and minister Jann Stuckey was unwilling to disclose the contents at a news conference yesterday.
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