Projects and Initiatives

Final report on Site Monitoring of South of the Seaway is expected in July 2012

Marine Destinations
Gold Coast waterways are some of the most pristine in the world and contribute significantly to making the city such a great place to live and visit. The city’s natural and man-made waterways provide direct and indirect benefit to the marine, tourism and development sectors which underpin the local economy. With significant recreational boating, marine industries and tourism activities, the city’s waterways must therefore be carefully planned and managed.

The Gold Coast Marine Destination project aims to diversify the range of marine tourism products and experiences on the Gold Coast (hence encouraging visitors to stay longer and increase their spend). The project also aims to evenly distribute visitors throughout the Broadwater and the Southern Moreton Bay area, and create employment, export and investment opportunities for the city

The Gold Coast Marine Destination Project is overseen by the Destinations, Access and Management Working Group, which is part of the larger Gold Coast Waterways Steering Committee.

Springbrook Tourism Visioning Plan

Council's Economic Development Branch, in partnership with the Natural Areas Management Unit, have completed a visioning plan for Springbrook. The aim of this project is to explore ways to improve the sustainability, viability and success of Springbrook tourism businesses that also celebrates and protects the areas ecological values.

The final plan is available for download in sections:

Part 1 Final Springbrook Visioning Plan
Part 2 Final Springbrook Visioning Plan
Part 3 Final Springbrook Visioning Plan
Part 4 Appendix A Context Analysis Report
Part 5 Appendix A Context Analysis Report part 2
Part 6 Appendix A Context Analysis report part 3
Part 6A Appendix A Context Analysis report part 4
Part 7 Appendix B Community Consultation Report

Gold Coast Adventure Travel Group

Council's Economic Development Branch began working with the local adventure travel industry in 2002. At that time, the city attracted only 54,000 international visitors to backpacker hostels per year. Since then, this has grown by 57 per cent to over 85,000 visitors (Source: Tourism Research Austraila, International Visitor Survey). The Gold Coast's share of the Queensland backpacker and hostel visitor market has also grown from 22 per cent to 29 per cent during this period.

Key initiatives of the Gold Coast Adventure Travel Group for 2011 include:

• cooperative marketing initiatives in leading Australian and international youth and backpacker publications
• activities to increase the perception of the Gold Coast as an adventure and youth destination to all target markets including international student markets
• regular industry development and networking events
• attendance at the World Youth and Student Travel Conference to promote the Gold Coast as an adventure, student and youth destination

For more information: www.adventuregoldcoast.com.au

Gold Coast Food and Wine Trails
Council, through Business GC, has been actively supporting the food and tourism industries and helping to nurture and develop local food producers. Initiatives include the Hinterland and Pacific Food and Wine Trails, where visitors can explore for themselves the city’s diverse range of food and beverage producers. 

Please visit the Food and Wine trails website

Gold Coast City Council Business Mentoring and Development Program

In order to continue to develop the Gold Coast’s brand and product offer as a strong and distinctive destination, it is critical to grow the capacity of operators to develop more professional tourism businesses. This will then result in increased visitor numbers, length of stay and expenditure and encourage greater participation in tourism activities on the Gold Coast.

Council has recently completed Business Mentoring and Development Program for Gold Coast Adventure Travel Group (GCATG) and Gold Coast Tourism Members. This project delivered four GCATG and GCT Members mentoring to assist them to create and implement a  business plan aimed at growing adventure and youth tourism in their operations.

Please contact tourism@goldcoast.qld.gov.au for further information.

Gold Coast Eco-Efficiency Program
Council engaged tourism and environment management specialists EC3 Global to deliver the Eco-Efficiency Project, which is modelled on others elsewhere in Queensland, Tasmania and the Great Ocean Road. The has now been completed by 25 local tourism businesses. Please find link to the case studies below.

Airport Con-X-ion   Alto Cucina & Bar   Classic Holidays   Hyatt Regency  

Infinity  JPT Tours  RACV Royal Pines  Radisson Resort  The Mouses House

 Gold Coast Cultural Festival

 A feasibility study is currently underway to develop and establish a major Gold Coast Cultural Festival. The study will include a review of existing cultural events and organisations on the Gold Coast, as well as define the strengths adn weaknesses of the Gold Coast cultural sector and consider the economic, social and environmental benefits of establishing a major cultural festival.

Gold Coast and Hinterland Tourism Opportunity Plan (TOP)
The Gold Coast and Hinterland TOP aims to inform and motivate tourism industry stakeholders to actively pursue tourism investment and infrastructure opportunities by identifying new opportunities and upgrades required to support tourism growth in the region. The TOP has now been finalised following research into tourist demand and supply on the Gold Coast, and after extensive community consultation, and is now available to view on the Tourism QLD website. Please click here to view the TOP.