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Interview with
Sharon Harvey Director (India) of Gold Coast Tourism Corporation Ltd.
 Sharon is the Director (India) for
Gold Coast Tourism and has played a key role since the past few
years to attract a large number of Indian visitors to Gold Coast
region in Queensland. Here she shares with us why Gold Coast is
one of the favourite holiday and incentive destinations for the
Indian outbound market and for Bollywood as well.
Where exactly is Gold Coast and why is Gold Coast a popular
year round holiday destination?
Australia's Gold Coast is situated on
Australia's mid north East Coast, in the state of Queensland, only
an hour’s drive south of Brisbane.Gold Coast is a popular year
round destination largely due to the sub tropical climate. With
more than 300 days of sunshine each year and an average
temperature of 25 degrees celsius and water temperature of 22
degrees, Australia's sixth largest city has a climate that
inspires landscapes of natural beauty and a dynamic and
entertaining way of life. Gold Coast has everything that is great
about Australia, all in one easy to reach location. A spectacular
coastline, World Heritage listed rainforest, sand islands,
exciting city centre, theme parks, shopping, restaurants and year
round events. A genuinely interesting city with friendly people
and excellent weather means travellers freely enjoy all the city
sights and experiences. Many shops, restaurants and attractions
are open late into the night, so there is always something to
do.Hence, we've developed the tag line in India “So many unique
experiences, one destination” |
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 How long have you been associated
with Gold Coast Tourism and what growth have you seen in tourism
to Gold Coast from India during your tenure?
I've been with Gold Coast Tourism for
just 2 years. However, I have worked exclusively for Gold Coast
products, focussed on travellers from India for a total of 4
years. We achieved a whopping 41% increase on travellers to the
Gold Coast from 2005 to 2006. Figures for the past year are not
yet out. However, we do anticipate a healthy increase. |
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What is your role as Director
(India) of Gold Coast Tourism and how long have you been based in
India and what has been your experience during this tenure? |
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 My role for India is to develop,
coordinate and deliver an integrated strategy focussed on
achieving Gold Coast Tourism's 2010 targets. India is an integral
player in our vision to achieve our goals. I have been coming &
going to India for 2 years in this role. I spent the first 6
months of my role working with the Gold Coast City to ensure it
was ready for the Indian tourist. As an example, we focussed on
ensuring restaurants & attractions who wanted to cater to the
Indian consumer, understood the difference between Indian Veg, Non
Veg & Jain food.
This is the perfect opportunity to make special note of the warmth
of the Indian Travel Trade.
As a tourist, travelling throughout India can be tough going, many
people you encounter want to make money from you any which way
they can. One often leaves the country with the impression that
no-one is genuinely friendly or honest in India.To come here on
business however is a totally different experience. To many
foreigners from the tourism industry, the Indian travel trade is
the face of India and represents the true Indian persona. I cannot
tell you how welcoming, hospitable & generous you are. I truly
have never experienced such genuine, generous friends in all my
life. I have made many lifetime friends with the members of your
industry.
Working in India, although not always logistically easy, has
certainly been the most incredible and memorable experience of
both my personal & professional life and I give full credit to the
people in the trade who have made me feel so welcome and showed me
such warmth.I need the trade to love & promote my destination as I
do the other way around and I'm continuously amazed at the
dynamics of what it means 'to be Indian'. I'm sure I'll be made to
feel like an honoured guest even if my Hindi improves and I'm
still coming & going until I'm 100! |
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The latest promotional campaign
states that Gold Coast is the perfect destination for business and
pleasure, kindly elaborate. |
 Gold Coast region has always been the
'king of leisure'. We are now redefining ourselves as a business
events destination, a 'Davos' of the Southern Hemisphere, an
amazing place to conduct 'Business on the Beach'. To reinforce
this last February, Gold Coast hosted the inaugural VeryGC Global
Insights conference which brought together global business leaders
including Dr Alan Greenspan, former head of the US treasury and
the conference was telecast live across Asia.
Some of the reasons why Gold Coast has been voted in the top 3
Resort Destinations (targetting MICE) for 3 years running in CEI
Asia Pacific Magazine survey are listed below:
70 kms of pristine coastline
Over 100000 hectares of World Heritage Listed Rainforests
Sub tropical sand islands off the coast
Largest concentration of theme parks in southern hemisphere
Australia's best shopping from discount to designer
Over 40 golf courses designed by greats such as Jack Nicklaus
Conrad Jupiters Casino
Several world class spa and relaxation facilities
Largest regional multi purpose convention centre with $40m expansion plans which will increase the seating capacity to 6000
Accessible by 2 international Airports, Brisbane & Gold Coast
Leading events city - On an average, host to 17 hallmark events and 16 major events per year including -
The Lexmark Indy 300
The Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro Surfing
The Pan Pacific Masters Games
GC Bazaar, Festival of Food, Fashion & Fun
Primary industry is Tourism 10.5 billion visitors per year, 21 tourists to 1 resident |
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What is the theme behind marketing
Gold Coast as Very Gold Coast? |
 Australia's Gold Coast is the heart of
Australian fun. It is vibrant, sophisticated and always
entertaining. Quite simply, the Gold Coast is fun for everyone.
Through the Very Gold Coast, Very GC campaign we celebrate the
very best of what the Gold Coast has to offer, showing the
region's energy and stylish sense of fun. We aimed to promote the
Gold Coast as a multi-faceted destination for couples, families &
corporates, one that is upbeat and entertaining, warm and easy
going, contemporary and cosmopolitan.
A place with a unique energy that fuses excitement with countless
ways to relax and rejuvenate. A place where people can celebrate,
dress up or dress down and enjoy themselves to the full. To convey
the idea of fun in the advertising material and show the Gold
Coast really has something for everyone, we use a combination of
illustration, photography and colour to capture uniquely enjoyable
experiences that are Very Gold Coast, Very GC. |
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What is the ideal duration of stay one
should plan whilst visiting Gold Coast in order to experience the
range of activities that the region has to offer? |
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A minimum of 5 nights is needed if you
want to briefly tap into the islands, the hill station Hinterland
and the action packed Gold Coast. 7 - 14 nights is the usual stay
of an Aussie family, hence the increase in the amount of Apartment
style hotels. |
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What is the best way to reach Gold
Coast on arrival in Sydney, Australia? |
 On any choice of domestic airlines from Sydney - a 50 minute flight to Gold Coast or a 1 hour flight to Brisbane and a transfer to GC.
Direct into Brisbane from India
Singapore Airlines via Singapore
Malaysia Airlines via Kuala Lumpur
Thai Airways via Bangkok
Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong
Emirates via Dubai
Etihad Airways via Abu Dhabi
Direct into Gold Coast
All cities in Australia
Major hubs in New Zealand
Air Asia X via Kuala Lumpur |
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Gold Coast is perceived generally
to be a destination for theme parks and beaches. What way you plan
changing the perception of the region? |
Everything we do from here on end, for
both consumers & the trade will contain an aspect of the
Hinterland.
 Name some of the famous icons of Gold Coasts
A.
Palazzo Versace, the first and only
hotel of it's kind ·
B.
Surfers Paradise (including the iconic Surfers
C.
Paradise sign, Q1 Resort- world’s tallest residential tower and
much more)
D. Marina Mirage- home to an impressive marina of luxury yachts
(including boutique shopping, gourmet restaurants overlooking the
Gold Coast Broadwater and a variety of water activities)
E. Broadbeach - an emerging Gold Coast hot spot with chic cafes and
boutiques to a buzzing nightlife and award- wining restaurants
F. Coolangatta - a hidden beach oasis with quiet beaches and that
untouched atmosphere
G. Stradbroke & Moreton Islands including Tangalooma Wild Dolphin
resort & Couran CoveIsland Resort.
The Gold Coast Hinterland including World Heritage listed
Rainforests, boutique Bed and Breakfast, exclusive rainforest
retreats and award wining, wineries and restaurants.
Discover the secrets of the Gold Coast hinterland with commitment
or ease. Take a serious bushwalk in a World Heritage-listed
rainforest, a guided eco-tour or follow the Gold Coast Food and
Wine Trail. Wonder at glow-worms or glimpse Australia's shy
nocturnal animals with an evening tour. Major national parks
include Lamington and Springbrook with more than 100000 hectares
of National Parks and reserves. Take a 180m tree top walk 15m
above the forest floor, or stay in a rustic cottage, on a farm or
in a rainforest hideaway.
Unique Australian themed attractions including the Australian
Outback Spectacular, Paradise Country, Currumbin Wildlife
Sanctuary, Infinity.
Home to world class theme parks including Movie World, Sea World, Wet'n'Wild, Dreamworld and WhiteWater World. |
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What would be your recommendations
for the following visitors to Gold Coast:
 A) Young honeymoon couple seeking
adventure, fun and sun
Stay in a hinterland romantic villa, take a rainforest walk, shop
at local arts, crafts galleries, embark on a wide range of
adventure activities from sky diving to hot air ballooning,
jetboating, theme parks, romantic sunset cruises or even have
dinner on a gondola through the Gold Coast's vast canals. Don't
forget the islands, where a plethora of activity awaits, nor the
action packed night life of the Gold Coast….
B) Families
The endless attractions and theme parks, but don't forget the
educational aspect, GC is the most bio diverse region in the world
with unique fauna & wild life, take the kids on memorable yet
educational tours of the region, learn to swim or surf,….
 C) Incentive travellers including unique options
What the theme parks offer to the masses
during the day, they cater to your corporate group exclusively in
the evening . There is a huge 'wow' factor in experiencing a night
event at a theme park. Casino, clubs, unique & exciting team
building activities including film making, Harley Davidson tours,
sand tobogganing, quad bikes, swimming with a shark or dolphin,
walking a white Bengal tiger are some of the options
D) Senior citizens
Golf, day tours, animal sanctuaries, hinterland walks, bird
watching, whale watching, broadwater cruises & taking a helitour.
E) High end luxury traveller
Relax & rejuvenate in one of the many leading day spa's &
retreats, sail on a luxury yacht, fly to the Great Barrier Reef
for a day, dine in on one of the many signature dishes in award
winning restaurants, follow the food & wine trails. |
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Gold Coast has also been a popular venue for Bollywood movies.
Which movies have been shot or being shot here and what is your
message to Bollywood producers? |
 Heyy Baby was partly shot on the Gold Coast, however the script
called it Sydney. Dreamworld, the Villa, Royal Pines and much of
the landscape featured in that film. Singh is Kinng is the next
scripted movie to be shot on the Gold Coast. Vipul Shah- the
Producer, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, cast, crew and the stars
families lived on the Gold Coast whilst filming late last year. It
was a buzz for the city and we can't wait for the launch in
August.
To Bollywood producers I say, we've got world class, diverse and
unique locations. We have Warner Bros. Studios. We have got a
first rate and very experienced film industry that make many
Hollywood feature films 'Fool’s Gold' out just now was shot on the
GC and we have a very experienced and talented film crew with the
latest technology & equipment. We do not have the big budgets of
countries like Singapore & Malaysia however, the destination and
talent itself is the key incentive and most credible reason to
shoot in the region. |
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You have also been part of a Bollywood movie. How did it happen
and what was your experience? |
 I was staying at the Hilton Towers and between meetings went
shopping, as you do when in India for work. I was in Colaba and a
casting agent walked past and asked if I was free that evening.
They needed a white girl to play 'a painted lady'.
No, I'm not telling you the movie, and most of my part got axed in
the editing suite, much to my mothers relief. I did make the
billboard shots though, which I saw displayed larger than life at
the Eros Cinema on my next trip to India whilst on a Queensland on
Tour Mission. |
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 You have travelled extensively in India. Which is your
preferred holiday destination in India and why?
Kerala- the people are beautiful, the
place is so relaxed and the energy is at a different pace to the
rest of this vibrant buzzing country. My hubby & I spent our last
2 Christmas's in a little clifftop village called Varkala and my
brother met his now Italian fiancé there. We may be bringing out
all the families from Italy & Australia for our own special
version of the 'big fat Indian- Italian-Aussie wedding' |
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 Which is your favourite holiday
destination in Gold Coast and in Australia besides Gold Coast?
Byron Bay- Byron is located in
Northern NSW and is an hour’s drive south of the Gold Coast. The
drive on the 'coast road' itself is spectacular, and a must for
anyone who wants a self drive holiday. I spent the first part of
my honeymoon in Byron, a small town with incredible restaurants,
galleries, a place for peace & rejuvenation. It is also home to
many yoga & ayurveda retreats. It's very herbal |
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 Your message to the readers
If you haven't yet visited the Gold Coast, you
must. If you have, then you need to come back to discover a whole new
experience. The Hinterland is spectacular and a must for every traveller.
For the more discerning tourist, hire a car and visit the whole region.
For those staying longer, apartments are an inexpensive option, a lush
home away from home.
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