Ekka show day 2021: Moving date to day before Melbourne Cup ‘would give $1 billion boost to economy’

Queensland’s doomed Ekka holiday sets up the opportunity to create a long weekend that would deliver a $1 billion windfall to the state’s economy. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Queensland’s doomed Ekka holiday could create a Melbourne Cup long weekend to deliver a $1 billion windfall to get the state economy up and racing.

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With 4 million Queenslanders in lockdown against the rampaging spread of the Delta strain of the coronavirus, the State government has signalled intentions to transform the “People’s Day” Ekka holiday into a long weekend later in the year.

Last year the move generated an estimated $1 billion bonanza for the state’s ailing tourism industry at a traditionally quiet time of year.

While the State government has yet to decide on a date for the new holiday, Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said November 1 – the day before Melbourne Cup Day, would be an ideal date on the calendar to deliver a sorely-needed boost to the economy.

It’ll be another year before crowds are seen at the Ekka. Pic Annette Dew

The plan was backed by Tangalooma Island Resort, which spearheaded a push for the date shift last year.

Queensland’s tourism industry, already reeling from a spate of snap lockdowns which ruined three consecutive school holiday periods, has been brought to its knees by the latest Covid outbreak and a long weekend in “the Goldilocks zone” would be the perfect ticket to energise the weary sector.

With the grim prospect of southeast Queensland’s lockdown extending beyond Sunday, the addition of another holiday date would need to give people sufficient time – and confidence, to book any weekend escapes.

It would also need to be far enough away from the Christmas and September school breaks and the existing Queen’s Birthday holiday in October to encourage people to take another trip away.

Mr Gschwind said a public holiday the day before the Melbourne Cup could effectively create a four-day weekend for millions of people across the state as many would be tempted to take the race day off as well.

“It would be a great opportunity to bring everyone back to some of our great destinations,” he said.

“We need something to cheer them (tourism industry operators) up and a November long weekend would certainly help to achieve that.”

Workers pack up as the Ekka Show was cancelled due to the lockdown. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Tangalooma Island Resort staffer Chris Southam last year proposed using the cancelled Ekka show day to create a long weekend and resort director David James said it would again make the most of an unfortunate situation.

“It would be a huge boost not only to Tangalooma but to a wide range of businesses across the board, not to mention a welcome surprise for all the families who have been devastated by recent lockdowns,” he said.

Any new date for the holiday would need to be ratified at the next sitting of parliament because it requires changes to legislation.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said the people’s long weekend was very successful in 2020.

“It gave people the opportunity to support their local business and the tourist industry and to enjoy a well-earned break,” she said.

“All options for the timing of the long weekend will be considered by Cabinet in time for the 2021 Peoples Long Weekend to be introduced and approved by parliament when it resumes in late August.”

Originally published as Ekka show day 2021: Moving date to day before Melbourne Cup ‘would give $1 billion boost to economy’