A new campaign will promote the Sunshine Coast as the “major events capital” of regional Australia with the region to host more than 60 major events this year.
With the tagline “The World is Coming…”, the campaign was unveiled this week by Visit Sunshine Coast and Sunshine Coast Council.
“This year the Sunshine Coast is set to host the largest ever portfolio of events held in the region,” Visit Sunshine Coast chief executive Simon Ambrose said.
“World-class sporting events such as the Ironman 70.3 World Championships and World Outrigger Sprint Championships will place the focus on the Sunshine Coast’s magnificent aquatic attractions, while the Queensland Garden Expo, Caloundra Music Festival, Maroochy Music and Visual Arts Festival, Wanderlust, and a new-format Noosa Food & Wine Festival, will highlight the diversity of our events calendar.”
The program of events is expected to attract 150,000 visitors from more than 40 countries, contributing around $100 million to the local economy – almost double last year’s figures.
“Research shows that 69% of people who come to a destination for an event return for a holiday, so events and meetings are a fundamental component of the Sunshine Coast’s tourism growth strategy,” Ambrose said.
“’The World is Coming…’ campaign is the perfect lead-up to our 50th anniversary celebrations in 2017, and Visit Sunshine Coast is working closely with the Sunshine Coast Events Board to attract a series of major events to the region throughout the anniversary year.”
Major Events 2016
- 11 to 13 March: Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival (est. 11,300 guests)
- 16 to 24 April: Australian Surf Life Saving Championships (est. 22,000 guests)
- 5 to 15 May: Va’a World Outrigger Sprint Championships (est. 5000 guests)
- 8-10 July: Queensland Garden Expo (est. 18,000 guests)
- 4 September: Ironman 70.3 World Championships (est. 9600 guests)
- 8 to 15 October: Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games (est. 7400 guests)
- 30 September to 3 October: Caloundra Music Festival (est. 16,000 guests)
- Through-out year: 10 Cruise ship visits: (est. 6000 guests)
Image credit: iStock
