Gold Coast to host Australian Tourism Exchange 2023

The Gold Coast has been named as host of the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) 2023 event which will be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre from 30th April to 5th May 2023.

The event is anticipated to contribute $9 million to the Gold Coast’s Economic Recovery Plan with potential longer-term economic benefits running into the billions.

Destination Gold Coast Chief Executive Patricia O’Callaghan said securing the event for the Gold Coast was a testament to the city’s evolved infrastructure, connectivity, and experiential offering.

O’Callaghan enthused “we are thrilled to be partnering with Tourism Australia, Tourism and Events Queensland and the City of Gold Coast to deliver ATE23 in the heart of Australia’s favourite playground that blends the perfect offering for both business and leisure travellers.

“The Gold Coast has gone through a significant transformation over the past two years with more than $1 billion in tourism investment in new attractions and experiences that our visitors have never seen before and 3,000 hotel rooms under way or completed.

“ATE23 will turbocharge recovery for Gold Coast’s tourism sector and connect the city with a network of international buyers and sellers, but importantly stimulate economic activity for our 10,000 tourism operators and small businesses.”

Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe added “up to 1,500 tourism professionals from Australia and the world will be on the Gold Coast for ATE, the main trade familiarisation event for inbound overseas tourism.

“Travel buyers are important on-sellers of tourism experiences to overseas travel agents who advertise and package up Queensland holiday itineraries for international visitors.

“As we rebuild the State’s $6 billion-a-year international tourism industry, events like ATE on the Gold Coast are critical to bringing overseas visitors back to Queensland.”

“ATE on the Gold Coast will help our tourism operators to build and maintain the buyer connections that keep Queensland visitor destinations top-of-mind for overseas travellers.”      

The Australian Tourism Exchange is a highly sought-after event by every Australian State and was last held on the Gold Coast in 2016.