MRS KEECH ASKED THE MINISTER FOR TOURISM AND FAIR TRADING (MR LAWLOR) —
QUESTION:
With reference to the Premier recently launching the 2010 Gold Coast Airport marathon—
Will the Minister advise of the benefits this major event will bring to Gold Coast tourism?
ANSWER:
Approximately 25,000 people are expected to take part in the 2010 Gold Coast Airport Marathon, which is on track to be the biggest and best in its 32-year history.
Already this year, there have been entries from 28 countries and each Australian state and territory. The extension of the event to two days – to be held on Saturday 3 to Sunday 4 July - will help to encourage more runners and their supporters to visit the Gold Coast for the Marathon weekend.
The Gold Coast Airport Marathon is now Australia’s largest marathon and one of the world’s premier running events. Last year, the marathon attracted 6,731 runners from outside Queensland, including close to 2,000 from overseas.
The marathon generates benefits for the Gold Coast in terms of visitor nights and exposure of the destination. Last year, the marathon generated 50,000 visitor nights on the coast.
This year, a $250,000 marketing campaign run by Tourism Queensland has created pre-exposure of the marathon in Australia and overseas in Japan, South East Asia and Korea in an effort to entice more participants.
During the event, the Gold Coast will be seen around Australia with Channel 9’s Today program broadcasting its weather reports from the heart of the marathon.
