Five-year deal will keep Magic Millions on Gold Coast
THE State Government and Magic Millions organisers have struck a deal to keep the $10 million race day and horse sales extravaganza on the Gold Coast until at least 2022.
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THE State Government and Magic Millions organisers have struck a deal to keep the $10 million race day and horse sales extravaganza on the Gold Coast until at least 2022.
Tourism Minister Kate Jones and Magic Millions co-owner Katie Page announced the agreement to the Gold Coast Bulletin yesterday.
Ms Page said the five-year deal with an option for five more gave confidence to investors in the carnival that they could rely on government support long into the future.
“It means that we can be working together on what it looks like in the next three years, five years and going forward which is important to Queensland, which is important to us. I don’t want to be doing things for one or two years,” she said.
“We’ve been on the Gold Coast now for 20 years with this business. We’ve really concentrated on the event starting probably 10 years ago.
“This was a sale, it was a race, but it wasn’t an event.
“It’s for the community, it’s for all the tourists … for us this has always been a long-term play.”
The Magic Millions carnival brought more than $12 million into the Gold Coast economy last year, adding 18,000 visitor nights.
Tourism Minister Kate Jones says one of the biggest selling points of Magic Millions is that the carnival is spread across nine days with a strong likelihood visitors will end up staying on the Coast for longer, compared to other events.
“What this event offers on the Gold Coast that not a lot of other events offer is really high yielding people and international exposure,” she said.
“TEQ (Tourism and Events Queensland) really feels like the polo event is one that we can grow.
“It’s a real opportunity for us to sell a Gold Coast week.
“We know that people will stay in Queensland if they commit to the polo and commit to the race day.
“What we’re really looking forward to in the next five years is growing that polo event.”
Racing Minister Grace Grace said the Magic Millions showcased Queensland’s world class racing industry.
“If you’re serious about racing and bloodstock, the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast in January is the only place to be,” she said.
Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter said he was pleased the government had recommitted to supporting an event that he said was a crucial pillar of events tourism on the Gold Coast.
“The Magic Millions event continues to place the Gold Coast in the global spotlight, which represents significant value to the destination,” he said.
“The influence of high profile guests and participants such as the Royal Family ensures positive media coverage, which in turn showcases our strengths as a city — from our beautiful natural assets to our dynamic and evolving arts and culture, sports, food and wine, entertainment and our exceptional infrastructure.”
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