Tourism post for top Gold Coast businessman

The Gold Coast Bulletin says that Tourism Australia has finally realised the Gold Coast exists after the body yesterday announced the appointment of local business identity Grant Hunt to its board.

Mr Hunt is widely known in Gold Coast business circles and was the former CEO of Voyages Hotels and Resorts and held management jobs with Marina Mirage and Sanctuary Cove.

The report goes on to say that the news comes after a conga line of Tourism Australia bungles which left the glitter strip, regarded by most as the nation’s tourism capital, off key advertising campaigns.

Earlier this year, Tourism Australia omitted Indy and the Magic Millions from its annual list of major events while the controversial ‘Where the Bloody Hell are You?’ overseas advertising campaign did not include a single image of the Gold Coast.

Federal member for Moncrieff Steven Ciobo welcomed Mr Hunt’s appointment.

“Given one in every four jobs on the Gold Coast is tourism related, it is important Tourism Australia is represented by an experienced Gold Coaster like Grant to maximise tourism opportunities,” he said.

Mr Ciobo said the local appointment would raise the status of the Gold Coast in national and international tourism markets.

“Having a local businessman on the board of Tourism Australia will add value to Gold Coast Tourism,” he said.

Report by The Mole