ATE heads back to the sunny state

Tourism Australia has announced that Queensland’s Gold Coast will play host to the country’s largest annual tourism trade show in 2016.

The Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) is headed to the sunny state, with Tourism Australia’s md John O’Sullivan making the announcement yesterday at an industry briefing on the Gold Coast hosted by Tourism and Events Queensland.

The Gold Coast is already gearing up for the major economic benefits that will come out of hosting such an industry heavyweight event, with the economy expecting an immediate $10 million uplift during the five days of the event.

O’Sullivan said that after the success of ATE14 in Cairns, it’s great to see Australia’s premier trade event for attracting international tourism business returning to the hot destination.

“The Gold Coast has undergone something of a renaissance in recent years, with sizeable investments in tourism infrastructure and international aviation access giving the region a renewed sense of confidence ahead of hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2018,” O’Sullivan said.

“With its iconic beaches, stunning hinterland and fun theme parks, the Gold Coast will provide a spectacular setting for Australia’s tourism industry to showcase their products directly to tourism wholesalers and retailers from around the world.”

“The timing of an ATE event on the Gold Coast is particularly appropriate, with 2016 seeing much more emphasis being placed by Tourism Australia upon the international marketing of the country’s aquatic and coastal tourism experiences.”

Queensland Minister for Tourism and Major Events Kate Jones said the Gold Coast was primed and ready to host ATE16 for the first time.

“The Australian Tourism Exchange is the largest tourism trade show on the industry’s calendar and will connect Queensland tourism businesses directly with 600 international travel buyers who sell Australian holidays in 38 countries,” she said.

“I welcome the boost this event will provide to Queensland tourism because it means more visitors and more jobs for Queenslanders for years to come.”

“Delegates will also have the opportunity to explore other Queensland destinations spreading the benefits of the Australian Tourism Exchange around the state.”

Gold Coast Tourism’s ceo Martin Winter also agreed that ATE is unquestionably the single largest opportunity in 2016 for the city and tourism industry to showcase itself to key influencers.

“Gold Coast Tourism is delighted to partner with Tourism Australia and Tourism and Events Queensland to ensure these international travel buyers, media and our Australian tourism colleagues fully experience the fun, excitement and warm hospitality that the Gold Coast is famous for,” Winter said.

Further details, including the dates for the 2016 Australian Tourism Exchange, will be announced in the coming months.

ATE is Australia’s annual business-to-business tourism travel trade event, which brings together around 600 travel wholesalers and agents from 38 countries to meet and do business with 1500 Australian tourism seller delegates from 500 companies.