Gold Coast Warms Up for a Hot Winter

A run of warm, sunny weather is boding well for a healthy winter for Gold Coast tourism operators.

Pre-bookings are strong, and last-minute visits are also holding up well, according to Gold Coast Tourism chief executive Martin Winter.

Winter claimed that last-minute visits come mostly from Brisbane, and were up 15% from March.

As always during winter on the Coast, accommodation, theme parks and attractions were out-performing beach-related activities, he noted. Surf school bookings are down, but accommodation operators are posting pleasing occupancy rates.

Sea World reported a solid June and forecasted a good July, thanks partly to good weather. Warner Bros Movie World said local and holiday-maker attendance was high.

A scuba diving operator also said business was doing well thanks to “beautiful” weather, after a slower patch during a period of wind and rain.

Winter said the industry is hoping to add a few more percentage points to its visitor numbers this quarter.

Source:  http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2013/06/27/453655_gold-coast-news.html