READY FOR TAKEOFF ANDREW POTTS
The anticipation is almost palpable. Australians have largely been grounded for the past two years, with virtually no international travel and only fleeting interstate holidays amidst rolling lockdowns, border closures and Covid outbreaks. But those brief periods of activity in 2021 were just an amuse bouche for the cornucopia of flights set to take off in 2022 as tourism resumes. And the Gold Coast will be the major beneficiary. Data compiled by Destination Gold Coast in 2021 revealed the city is the top destination which travel-starved domestic tourists want to visit, beating out some of the nation’s biggest cities. Time Magazine named the city one of the 100 greatest places in the world to visit, ranking it alongside Dubai, the iconic capitals of Europe and Athens. The return of major events and conferences, including the 2022 The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival and GC 500 motorsports weekend, puts the Gold Coast on the comeback trail after a tough two years.
154 / READY FOR TAKEOFF
With international visitors also chomping at the bit to return to Australia, the city is poised to reap the benefits of this new wave of tourism. And those flying into the city will be greeted by a new-look Gold Coast Airport. More than $500 million has been spent in the past three years to expand its terminal to create an airport for the 2020s, which will come packed to the gills with an array of features and again make it competitive on the international stage. The expansion is due to open in 2022.
