Why film, TV and tourism make perfect partners on the Gold Coast

FEDERAL Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo says film and TV play a huge role in promoting any destination to international tourists — particularly on the Gold Coast.

THE Gold Coast has a strong track record of attracting international blockbusters to be filmed on our shores.

In the past few years alone we saw “A-listers’’ flock to the city for roles in films such as San Andreas, Thor: Ragnarok, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, and Aquaman.

The Coalition recognises the huge growth potential in our screen industry, which is why it has delivered a $140 million Location Incentive over four years to ensure a pipeline of films to be made on the Gold Coast and Australia.

This funding is all about supporting jobs. It ensures our film industry remains vibrant and competitive and gives us the opportunity to showcase both our on-screen and production talent to the world.

Movies and TV series play a huge role in promoting any destination to international tourists. A great example of this is Tourism Australia’s recent Crocodile Dundee campaign, launched earlier this year in the US.

Australia’s home of the blockbuster — Village Roadshow Studios at Oxenford. Picture: Courtesy Village Roadshow Studios.

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The Dundee campaign was a huge success. It was the most searched, viewed and shared Superbowl ad and generated nearly 15,000 TV segments and press articles, and was viewed by over 1 billion people.

The huge exposure of our country and culture generated by the Dundee campaign has increased tourist bookings for Australia by 900 per cent. It reiterates the appeal our country has when it is showcased through film.

Screen Australia reports around 230,000 international tourists visit Australia or extend their stay each year as a result of Australian screen content. Tourism is the backbone of the Gold Coast and these numbers are vital for the thousands of businesses and jobs in our local industry.

Crew on set at Village Roadshow Studios during production on Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok, a six-month film shoot that benefited the whole of the Coast. Picture: Jasin Boland ©2016 Marvel. Picture: Courtesy Village Roadshow Studios.

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I have spoken to producers around the world who want to make films in Australia because they love our talent and our people. International stars such as Margot Robbie and Chris Hemsworth have been unofficial ambassadors for the Coast and are great examples of our homegrown talent making their mark on the world stage.

If there are more films and TV shows produced on the Gold Coast, there will be a flow-on effect to the rest of the economy.

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It means more people at our world-class restaurants, bars, beaches and theme parks. It means more money is being invested on the Gold Coast, which will grow our economy and create more jobs for locals.

Steven Ciobo is the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment and Federal Member for Moncrieff