International visitors to the Gold Coast spent a little over AU$1 billion in the 12 months from July 2009 to June 2010, with a five per cent increase in visitor number s from the year prior.
The positive gain was made even more satisfying with the achievement of increases in Japanese (up by five per cent), Chinese (up by 15 per cent), and United Kingdom (up 18 per cent) visitors, three markets which have been the focus of increased efforts by the destination marketing organization, Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter said.
"The Gold Coast really is Australia's number one tourism destination, our ability to attract a five per cent increase in international visitors, well above state and national trends, is a credit to the city's wide popularity and the positive work of our tourism businesses as they are out there fighting for every tourist," he said.
The International Visitor Survey (year ending June 2010), run by Tourism Research Australia, reported that the top three international source markets by visitor number were: New Zealand, down two percent at 200,000; Japan, up three per cent at 114,000; and China, up a whopping 15 per cent at 107,000 visitors.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Things to Do in Gold Coast, Gold Coast Attractions
The Gold Coast region is big on theme parks. During peak season expect them all to be quite busy. Before you go, investigate ticket discounts for combined travel and entry, multi-park and multi-day passes. Members of Australian motoring associations can purchase discounted tickets from them before you travel.
Movie World, Sea World and Wet'n'Wild are owned by the same company, so check out one of their combo tickets if you're planning on hitting two or more of them.
Dreamworld and WhiteWater World offer the same kind of deal.
* Sea World is the oldest and also one of the most established theme parks in Australia. It first opened in 1958 before moving to its present site in 1971. It is the closest to heart of the Gold Coast and will be interesting for those who like marine animals. Lots of shows and live acts, and you could easily spend a day here without going on any rides, such as the corkscrew roller coaster, and speed water slides.
* Dreamworld is a traditional theme park with a popular tiger zoo and is the home of the Australian Big Brother House. The park itself is quite small but it is one of the best places to go in Australia if you are after thrill rides. Also includes Wiggleworld a great little kids area named after the Wiggles group.
* Warner Bros. Movie World is a Warner Bros. movie themed park. WB Movie and Loony Toon characters wander around all over the place. It is the most themed of the Gold Coast parks and includes the fastest (and in fact only really good) rollercoaster in Australia (Superman Escape). Once again a good place for the thrillseekers.
* Wet'n'Wild, +61 7 5573 2255. 10AM - 5PM (9PM during Jan) except Dec 25 and April 25 (1.30PM - 5PM). Water theme park with a wide range of slides, a wave pool, 'dive-in movies' at night in the wave pool (if you wish) and even a river where you can just lie in a tube and float around and around! A definite must during the summer, though best left to a day that isn't stupidly hot or the queues are too ridiculous. The water is heated in winter. Adults $49/Children (4-13yrs) & Pensioners $32.
* Australian Outback Spectacular, 133 386. Nightly Tues-Sun (except Dec 25 ), ~7PM. is a new Epic Outback Show, complete with stampeding cattle, wild horses and an Australian Dinner. Free stockman's hat! Adults $99/Pensioners $89/Children (4-13yrs) $65.
* WhiteWater World, +61 7 5588 1111. 10AM - 5PM except Dec 25 and April 25 (1.30PM - 5PM). is a newer water park next to Dreamworld, said to be just as good as Wet'n'Wild, if not better. Combined tickets available. Adults $45/Children (4-13yrs) & Pensioners $30.
* Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for feeding huge flocks of rainbow lorikeets, which will perch all over your head and arms. This park has expanded to have a number of animal exhibits. The lorikeet feeding takes place just inside the entrance, but there are also hundreds of native Australian animals on display in natural bushland and rainforest settings around the park. You can get close to the usual assortment of kangaroos, emus, wallabies, etc. in open enclosures.
* Easy hike up Burleigh Mountain, half an hour busride south of Surfers Paradise (take route 700 (Tweed Heads) bus from Cavill Avenue, get off at the Gold Coast Highway/Ikkina Road stop.). This small mountain is situated at the mouth of Tallebudgera Creek as it joins the ocean and is flanked by swimming spots along the river and beach. The mountain is just beside the main road, and is an easy walk to the top. At the top you can visit the information centre, see the remains of Aboriginal middens, rock formations left behind by ancient eruptions of Mount Warning, and try spotting whales and sea eagles from the lookouts over the southern coastline. FREE.
Movie World, Sea World and Wet'n'Wild are owned by the same company, so check out one of their combo tickets if you're planning on hitting two or more of them.
Dreamworld and WhiteWater World offer the same kind of deal.
* Sea World is the oldest and also one of the most established theme parks in Australia. It first opened in 1958 before moving to its present site in 1971. It is the closest to heart of the Gold Coast and will be interesting for those who like marine animals. Lots of shows and live acts, and you could easily spend a day here without going on any rides, such as the corkscrew roller coaster, and speed water slides.
* Dreamworld is a traditional theme park with a popular tiger zoo and is the home of the Australian Big Brother House. The park itself is quite small but it is one of the best places to go in Australia if you are after thrill rides. Also includes Wiggleworld a great little kids area named after the Wiggles group.
* Warner Bros. Movie World is a Warner Bros. movie themed park. WB Movie and Loony Toon characters wander around all over the place. It is the most themed of the Gold Coast parks and includes the fastest (and in fact only really good) rollercoaster in Australia (Superman Escape). Once again a good place for the thrillseekers.
* Wet'n'Wild, +61 7 5573 2255. 10AM - 5PM (9PM during Jan) except Dec 25 and April 25 (1.30PM - 5PM). Water theme park with a wide range of slides, a wave pool, 'dive-in movies' at night in the wave pool (if you wish) and even a river where you can just lie in a tube and float around and around! A definite must during the summer, though best left to a day that isn't stupidly hot or the queues are too ridiculous. The water is heated in winter. Adults $49/Children (4-13yrs) & Pensioners $32.
* Australian Outback Spectacular, 133 386. Nightly Tues-Sun (except Dec 25 ), ~7PM. is a new Epic Outback Show, complete with stampeding cattle, wild horses and an Australian Dinner. Free stockman's hat! Adults $99/Pensioners $89/Children (4-13yrs) $65.
* WhiteWater World, +61 7 5588 1111. 10AM - 5PM except Dec 25 and April 25 (1.30PM - 5PM). is a newer water park next to Dreamworld, said to be just as good as Wet'n'Wild, if not better. Combined tickets available. Adults $45/Children (4-13yrs) & Pensioners $30.
* Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for feeding huge flocks of rainbow lorikeets, which will perch all over your head and arms. This park has expanded to have a number of animal exhibits. The lorikeet feeding takes place just inside the entrance, but there are also hundreds of native Australian animals on display in natural bushland and rainforest settings around the park. You can get close to the usual assortment of kangaroos, emus, wallabies, etc. in open enclosures.
* Easy hike up Burleigh Mountain, half an hour busride south of Surfers Paradise (take route 700 (Tweed Heads) bus from Cavill Avenue, get off at the Gold Coast Highway/Ikkina Road stop.). This small mountain is situated at the mouth of Tallebudgera Creek as it joins the ocean and is flanked by swimming spots along the river and beach. The mountain is just beside the main road, and is an easy walk to the top. At the top you can visit the information centre, see the remains of Aboriginal middens, rock formations left behind by ancient eruptions of Mount Warning, and try spotting whales and sea eagles from the lookouts over the southern coastline. FREE.
Geography of Gold Coast, Australia
The Gold Coast is a large urban area with a population of 550,000 administered by the Gold Coast City Council (headquartered at Evandale in Surfers Paradise) and the Tweed Shire in NSW. It is a key part of Greater Brisbane, a conurbation of over 3 million people. The Gold Coast shares its infrastructure, facilities, services and labour market with Brisbane to the north. Workers commonly commute between the two by rail and road.
Unfortunately, many tourists believe the highrise buildings and crowds of Surfers Paradise make it an overdeveloped 'tourist trap'. Most of these buildings are however local residential. The city also has many services and industries not directly related to tourism.
The Gold Coast, that visitors are more familiar with, stretches along the coastal suburbs from Paradise Point to Tweed Heads (about 35km). Surfers Paradise, towards the northern end, is the hub of the leisure activity.
Unfortunately, many tourists believe the highrise buildings and crowds of Surfers Paradise make it an overdeveloped 'tourist trap'. Most of these buildings are however local residential. The city also has many services and industries not directly related to tourism.
The Gold Coast, that visitors are more familiar with, stretches along the coastal suburbs from Paradise Point to Tweed Heads (about 35km). Surfers Paradise, towards the northern end, is the hub of the leisure activity.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Chinese tourists coast to Gold in Australia : Gold Coast Holidays at its best!
Last year, 106,000 Chinese tourists spent over AU$60 million on the Gold Coast, exhibiting growth of 15 percent for the tourism hot spot, compared to Chinese visitation to Australia which grew by a relatively subdued 2.8 percent over the same period.
Gold Coast Tourism (GCT), who released the figures, said it was not alone in recognising the business and tourism potential of China, and was one of the few Australian tourism agencies preparing the local industry to maximise the opportunity.
As parts of its preparations, GCT will bring together dozens of front-line tourism staff for a workshop on Chinese Culture and Customer Service, to heighten cultural intelligence of Chinese social customs and nuances. This builds on the recent Chinese Culture and Business workshop attended by 30 staff from various Gold Coast businesses seeking to better their trade relationships with China.
"It is one thing to increase Chinese visitor numbers, it is another thing to develop a prosperous and sustainable market," GCT Marketing Manager - China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, John Chan said.
"We need to break down barriers between Gold Coast businesses and our Chinese visitors and tourism distribution partners. Our ability to raise the Gold Coast's profile in China and attract a larger quantity and quality of Chinese tourists is as much about Gold Coast businesses being able to effectively engage the market as it is about destination brand marketing.
"If Gold Coast Tourism can help foster an awareness and appreciation amongst local tourism businesses for how best to interact with both Chinese tourism businesses and consumers, then without doubt we have a far greater chance of achieving more lasting and sustainable tourism growth for the Gold Coast."
GCT provided three introductory tips at its Chinese Culture and Business Workshop, for starting on the right foot in Chinese business:
Gold Coast Tourism (GCT), who released the figures, said it was not alone in recognising the business and tourism potential of China, and was one of the few Australian tourism agencies preparing the local industry to maximise the opportunity.
As parts of its preparations, GCT will bring together dozens of front-line tourism staff for a workshop on Chinese Culture and Customer Service, to heighten cultural intelligence of Chinese social customs and nuances. This builds on the recent Chinese Culture and Business workshop attended by 30 staff from various Gold Coast businesses seeking to better their trade relationships with China.
"It is one thing to increase Chinese visitor numbers, it is another thing to develop a prosperous and sustainable market," GCT Marketing Manager - China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, John Chan said.
"We need to break down barriers between Gold Coast businesses and our Chinese visitors and tourism distribution partners. Our ability to raise the Gold Coast's profile in China and attract a larger quantity and quality of Chinese tourists is as much about Gold Coast businesses being able to effectively engage the market as it is about destination brand marketing.
"If Gold Coast Tourism can help foster an awareness and appreciation amongst local tourism businesses for how best to interact with both Chinese tourism businesses and consumers, then without doubt we have a far greater chance of achieving more lasting and sustainable tourism growth for the Gold Coast."
GCT provided three introductory tips at its Chinese Culture and Business Workshop, for starting on the right foot in Chinese business:
- Chinese people focus on building a sincere relationship before negotiating business deals. In initial meetings share information about your business, your culture and your community.
- Respect China's long history of practising business. Meetings and negotiations are much more successful when a mutual respect is displayed.
- Learn to say hello in Chinese (Mandarin) properly. A warm greeting in Chinese shows your potential as a business partner and the effort you make will be very well regarded. Hello in Mandarin is 'ni hao'.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Gold Coast woos Middle Eastern tourists in Ramadan
Gold Coast lays on free Ramadan lounge, Halal-certified products and Arabic-speaking staff
Despite sensitive Islamic issues such as the burqa ban getting Australia’s politicians all hot and bothered ahead of a national election, for the country’s tourism chiefs, Muslim tourists represent a vital source of revenue.
And although it’s better known for campaigns that focus on bikinis and beaches, the industry is now going out of their way to welcome Muslim travellers from the Middle East in the month of Ramadan.
At the forefront of these initiatives is a new Ramadan evening lounge, inaugurated yesterday at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Surfers Paradise, one of the most popular holiday spots on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
Minister for Tourism Peter Lawlor said the lounge would be a free facility during Ramadan where visiting and local Muslims can gather after a day of traditional fasting. It is open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and will offer light refreshments.
Other efforts include the launch of a dedicated Gold Coast Muslim Visitors Guide that lists all of the city’s Halal-certified restaurants, Gold Coast Tourism Director International Gordon Price told Emirates 24
7.
The Gold Coast is already a popular destination for Middle Eastern tourists, particularly in summer, when temperatures across Arabia can cross 50 degrees but the Gold Coast averages around 22 degrees during the day.
And with the Ramadan period, when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, coinciding with the peak summer travel period for at least another ten years, it makes sense to keep the high-spending visitors coming in.
Lawlor said while the Middle East was not Queensland's largest international market, it was definitely a high priority for the state's tourism industry because of its significant potential. Australia's tourism numbers have dwindled after record highs in the 1990s, but Lawlor said Queensland welcomed 20,500 visitors from the Middle East and North Africa last year.
"Tourism data also shows that Middle Eastern visitors to Australia contributed $573 million (Dh2.1 billion) to the Australian economy over the past year.
“Additionally, Middle East arrivals to Australia were forecast to grow more than 12 per cent per year between 2008-2013. These figures demonstrate the opportunity to better market the Gold Coast to the Middle East, make visitors from that international region feel more welcome, and see this convert into higher bookings and an increase in expenditure for the region."
Price said numerous Gold Coast tourism operators including theme parks, restaurants and hotels already catered to the Middle Eastern market by offering Halal-certified products, prayer rooms, copies of the Koran and prayer mats to Muslim visitors.
"Our visitors from the Middle East are well regarded by the local industry as they stay for extended periods and are very active around the city, they really like to experience all the things to see and do on the Gold Coast, and the Ramadan Lounge will certainly add to that,” added Gold Coast Holidays Tourism CEO Martin Winter.
A visitor information centre in the middle of town has Arabic-speaking staff, while local tour operators such as Lawand Tourism will create packages for Middle Eastern guests.
And the Islamic Society of the Gold Coast will help with specific requirements, says Price.
To further leverage business into the territory, Tourism Queensland appointed a Dubai-based representative for the first time last November, in response to the growing potential of the Middle East market, Lawlor said.
"Tourism Queensland's current focus is on targeted marketing activity in the Middle East to promote the Sunshine State as a desirable holiday destination, strengthening travel industry relationships and developing airline partnerships," he said.
However, there’s still some way to go. The new Ramadan lounge, for instance, is only open three days a week, but Muslims must fast every day.
Despite sensitive Islamic issues such as the burqa ban getting Australia’s politicians all hot and bothered ahead of a national election, for the country’s tourism chiefs, Muslim tourists represent a vital source of revenue.
And although it’s better known for campaigns that focus on bikinis and beaches, the industry is now going out of their way to welcome Muslim travellers from the Middle East in the month of Ramadan.
At the forefront of these initiatives is a new Ramadan evening lounge, inaugurated yesterday at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Surfers Paradise, one of the most popular holiday spots on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
Minister for Tourism Peter Lawlor said the lounge would be a free facility during Ramadan where visiting and local Muslims can gather after a day of traditional fasting. It is open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and will offer light refreshments.
Other efforts include the launch of a dedicated Gold Coast Muslim Visitors Guide that lists all of the city’s Halal-certified restaurants, Gold Coast Tourism Director International Gordon Price told Emirates 24
7.
The Gold Coast is already a popular destination for Middle Eastern tourists, particularly in summer, when temperatures across Arabia can cross 50 degrees but the Gold Coast averages around 22 degrees during the day.
And with the Ramadan period, when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, coinciding with the peak summer travel period for at least another ten years, it makes sense to keep the high-spending visitors coming in.
Lawlor said while the Middle East was not Queensland's largest international market, it was definitely a high priority for the state's tourism industry because of its significant potential. Australia's tourism numbers have dwindled after record highs in the 1990s, but Lawlor said Queensland welcomed 20,500 visitors from the Middle East and North Africa last year.
"Tourism data also shows that Middle Eastern visitors to Australia contributed $573 million (Dh2.1 billion) to the Australian economy over the past year.
“Additionally, Middle East arrivals to Australia were forecast to grow more than 12 per cent per year between 2008-2013. These figures demonstrate the opportunity to better market the Gold Coast to the Middle East, make visitors from that international region feel more welcome, and see this convert into higher bookings and an increase in expenditure for the region."
Price said numerous Gold Coast tourism operators including theme parks, restaurants and hotels already catered to the Middle Eastern market by offering Halal-certified products, prayer rooms, copies of the Koran and prayer mats to Muslim visitors.
"Our visitors from the Middle East are well regarded by the local industry as they stay for extended periods and are very active around the city, they really like to experience all the things to see and do on the Gold Coast, and the Ramadan Lounge will certainly add to that,” added Gold Coast Holidays Tourism CEO Martin Winter.
A visitor information centre in the middle of town has Arabic-speaking staff, while local tour operators such as Lawand Tourism will create packages for Middle Eastern guests.
And the Islamic Society of the Gold Coast will help with specific requirements, says Price.
To further leverage business into the territory, Tourism Queensland appointed a Dubai-based representative for the first time last November, in response to the growing potential of the Middle East market, Lawlor said.
"Tourism Queensland's current focus is on targeted marketing activity in the Middle East to promote the Sunshine State as a desirable holiday destination, strengthening travel industry relationships and developing airline partnerships," he said.
However, there’s still some way to go. The new Ramadan lounge, for instance, is only open three days a week, but Muslims must fast every day.
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