Olympics tourism boost bigger than Commonwealth Games, says Star Entertainment Group boss

The boost to tourism from a 2032 Queensland Olympics would eclipse that of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, the boss of Brisbane’s biggest project says.

THE SEQ 2032 Olympics and Paralympics would create a gravitational pull that would draw the best and brightest to Queensland, and open up our most lucrative tourism market – China – in ways the Commonwealth Games never could, the state’s biggest tourism investor says.

The Star Entertainment Group managing director Matt Bekier — whose group is part of the $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf project and the massive revamp of the former Jupiters on the Gold Coast — said the Olympics would showcase Queensland and turbocharge the Chinese tourism market.

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The SEQ Council of Mayors proposed a Games bid to fast-track new roads and rail with a feasibility study which gathered momentum on the back of The Courier-Mail’s Future SEQ campaign.

In June, The Courier-Mail and sister SEQ mastheads officially backed the bid with front page editorials.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Monday announced Queensland was going for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics, won over by projections showing billions of dollars extra would pour into the state economy and the creation of another 129,000 jobs.

Mr Bekier said the chance to attract more tourists started years ahead of the Games.

Star CEO Matt Bekier

“The TV and broadcasting rights are truly global and will reach anybody around the globe so from an opportunity to showcase Queensland as a tourism destination, there is nothing like it,” Mr Bekier said.

“We are the largest investor in tourism in Queensland right now and so the opportunity to associate ourselves with an event that will change the perception of Queensland in the mind of the global tourist is a unique opportunity.

“We currently have about 4500 staff in Queensland, that’s going to go up north of 10,000 by 2022-23.

“The Olympics resonates in to the Asian markets like, say, the Commonwealth Games don’t, and the Asian market is the key market for tourism.

“An event like this will crystallise a lot of demand, both in the lead up, but then also afterwards, because it will be all over the TV screens for an extended period of time and if we can make it truly welcoming to a global audience of visitors, we will have… years of strong demand growth as a result of the Olympics.

“The Chinese tourists that we are currently seeing is the highest spending nationality of all of the visitors.

“It’s a relatively short trip but on that trip, the guest likes to stay in nice hotels and do lots of different experiences.

“It’s about an eight-day trip but it’s an $8000 to $9000 wallet that is being spent so it’s very substantial.”

A concept image of an Olympic stadium at Brisbane’s Victoria Park designed by Urbis

The SEQ 2032 leadership group – Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s representative MP Ted O’Brien, Premier Palaszczuk, AOC president John Coates, minister Kate Jones, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson — are expected to meet today to formally kick off the bid process.

The Infrastructure Association of Queensland said the Games and the associated City Deal were the perfect vehicles to get Queensland’s desperately-needed new roads, rail and digital infrastructure moving.

“Bidding for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics is an incredibly encouraging step for our industry – during an era where it has faced many challenges,” IAQ chief executive officer Priscilla Radice said.

“Great potential exists for the City Deal for South East Queensland currently under negotiation between Federal and State governments, and SEQ local councils to provide a pragmatic and immediate vehicle for the Olympics’ infrastructure.”

“Critically, the bid is a catalyst in building the sustainable infrastructure we need for the long-term, and we believe there is plenty of room also for the public and the private sectors to play their part – with the ability for funding to come from both.”

Originally published as Olympics tourism boost bigger than Commonwealth Games, says Star Entertainment Group boss