As Easter holidaymakers flock to one of the Sunshine State’s most popular tourist destinations, the Gold Coast is experiencing its largest increase in visitors in two years.
This long weekend, the coastal city received a boost comparable to that experienced prior to the pandemic, with resorts and hotels nearly completely booked.
Hotels throughout the city are currently at or near capacity, as the Gold Coast International Airport experiences its busiest day in more than two years.
The city has become one of the busiest weekend vacation spots in the country as a result of the influx of foreign and domestic travelers who have arrived for the weekend.
“At the moment, all of the resorts are completely booked, with 100 percent occupancy,” said Sue Fairweather, a representative from ULTIQA Hotels and Resorts.
Thousands of people descended to the Gold Coast’s amusement parks, resulting in overflowing parking lots and long queues for both families and visitors to enjoy the attractions.
“It’s much larger than I anticipated,” one lady observed.
Others came as early as possible in order to attempt to beat the lines in front of them.
Destination Gold Coast estimates that the Easter school vacation period will provide a $173 million economic boost for the region.
There has also been a significant increase in the number of people visiting beaches as people from New South Wales attempt to escape the bad weather that has soaked the state over the previous several months.
‘We came to the Gold Coast to get away from the rainy weather in Sydney, enjoy some sunshine and the beach, and to get the kids out of the house for a bit,’ one mother said.
Locals also set up deck chairs on the beach to take advantage of the warm weather.
