Local stars shine in tourism awards

When you're in the market for commercial property, whether to buy or to lease, you want to make sure you're moving into an active area. This is especially true when making a move on real estate that relies on customers, like restaurants and hotels. On the Gold Coast, industries like these can depend heavily on tourism numbers and promotion of the region. Of course, with the endless beaches and excitement on offer wherever you look in places like Surfers Paradise, that generally isn't a problem.

But the latest round of the Qantas Australian Tourism awards have been released, and the set of winners for 2014 includes many attractions that will make Surfers Paradise commercial property an even more attractive investment for buyers. 

Attractions everywhere

Among the winners of these awards is Dreamworld, situated a short drive from Surfers Paradise real estate. Australia's largest theme park won the bronze award for major tourist attractions, making it the third best place to go when you visit Australia for the big things. 

It's worth noting that Ardent Leisure, which owns Dreamworld, also runs other incredibly exciting tourism opportunities right across the Gold Coast, including right in the backyard of Surfers Paradise. This includes the SkyPoint observation deck, which one can find on levels 77 and 78 of the Q1 tower – an icon for anyone in the area. 

Speaking about the Queensland tourism winners in a 13 April statement, state minister for tourism, major events and small business Kate Jones said that victories such as this reinforce the diversity and culture on display right across the state.

"Tourism is vital to Queensland's economic prosperity contributing $23 billion to the economy and sustaining 241,000 Queensland jobs," she noted. Additionally, Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind offered hearty praise for all the winners in the Sunshine State.

"Receiving national industry recognition is testament to the dedication and perseverance among our state's tourism businesses to continually raise the standards of quality tourism experiences," he added.

Having attractions that win awards at this level right near Surfers Paradise real estate will be a big drawcard for anyone seeking to buy commercial property in the region.

Moving with the money

According to an IBISWorld report on tourism in Australia, the industry as a whole is expected to be worth $117.2billion across the 2014-2015 financial year. Furthermore, as the Australian dollar weakens against foreign currencies, tourism will become more appealing to overseas visitors, strengthening the industry. In fact, by 2019-2020, IBISWorld thinks this industry will be worth $128.6billion in Australia.

These are important figures to keep in mind for anyone considering buying commercial real estate in the hospitality or tourism sectors, especially in Surfers Paradise and the wider Gold Coast areas. By getting in early on great commercial real estate, it may be possible to take full advantage of this expected growth in the area. And if sites like Dreamworld continue to scoop up awards, it is likely that they will be at the forefront of visitors' minds when they come to the region. 

It's not just raw cash that can be a benefit for owners of real estate here either – the sheer volume of people coming into the region is sure to keep customers flowing in, especially in hospitality. 

"IBISWorld expects inbound visitor numbers to Australia to grow by 6.0% this financial year to total 7.1 million, with the majority of this growth coming from neighbouring countries including China, Malaysia, Singapore and India," said industry analyst Ryan Lin.

By seeking out commercial real estate around the hottest attractions in the greatest locations, you can dip into a burgeoning industry. Talk to us at Ray White Surfers Paradise for more information.