Schoolies fever is building on the Gold Coast.
Less than 30 days remain before students around Australia graduate to the Glitter Strip to celebrate in their tens of thousands.
Organisers are busy finalising plans for a mega fun and safe event, as school leavers and parents begin the big countdown to what leading Schoolies operator, schoolies.com, predicts will be one of the best attended Schoolies yet.
Schoolies.com ceo, Matt Lloyd, said approximately 30,000 students would descend on the Gold Coast for Schoolies 2015, injecting approximately $48 million into the local economy.
Other destinations including Airlie Beach, Byron Bay, Lorne and the Sunshine Coast will also be hives of action as teenagers en-masse trade the schoolbooks for surf, sun and celebration.
This year the Gold Coast’s biggest all-age beach festival will take centre stage in the middle of Schoolies Week, drawing major corporate backing and thousands of new interstate students eager for a fun, safe party.
Mr Lloyd said the launch of the Schoolies Nation Beach Festival last year, a partnership between schoolies.com and Gold Coast entertainment King Billy Cross, was one of the most exciting development since Schoolies was launched 27 years ago.
“Now in its second year major brands such as Australia’s largest independent dance music label Ministry of Sound have jumped on board, eager to be associated with its growing popularity,’’ he said.
Held at Surfers Paradise during week two of Schoolies in late November, the beach festival has attracted a wave of leading DJs and hip hop acts from Australia and New Zealand, including Timmy Trumpet, SCNDL, Bombs Away, Savage, Brooke Evers, Odd Mobb, Komes and Jesabel.
The beach festival is part of Schoolies Tour – a seven-night extravaganza featuring 50-plus DJs across four stages, including the Beach Stage and associated clubs.
Schoolies.com says visiting Schoolies spend on average $1600 each, comprising approximately $600 for accommodation and $1000 for entertainment, food and other items.
Schoolies.com itself contributes over $1.6 million annually on additional security patrols, a 24-hour helpline for students, parents and property managers, exclusive Schoolies-only events and more.
“An enormous amount of planning and effort goes into ensuring all relevant emergency and security staff are on site, making sure the event is an enjoyable experience not only for Schoolies but for local businesses and residents as well,’’ Mr Lloyd said.
Images: Supplied.
