Destination Gold Coast CEO Martin Winter said the city would lay out the welcome mat for more than 600,000 visitors as the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games opened last night.

The Commonwealth Games city welcomed 13.12 million visitors who spent a collective $5.09 billion for the year ending December 2017, according to the latest Tourism Research Australia numbers.

Just on four million domestic overnight visitors were recorded for 2017, up 8.1 per cent on the previous year.

Their spend of $3.1b was up 3.8 per cent on the previous. These totals are complemented by 8.05m day trippers spending $786.5m and the previously released international overnight visitor statistics of 1.069m spending $1.2b.

Mr Winter said the continued growth in domestic overnight visitors was a positive sign for the industry.

“To be up eight per cent year-on-year in domestic overnight stays and to once again top 5 million overall, when we add in international overnight visitors, tells a really positive story of the previous 12 months.”

Mr Winter said the Gold Coast was in a good position to capitalise on the Games and build on the 2017 results.

“We know there is room for improvement, such as in the day tripper numbers,” he said.

“That market segment is down 6.1 per cent year and year and we know it has been affected by a number of factors. As that market recovers we would expect to see numbers grow further.”

Queensland recorded 21.8m domestic overnight visitors (up 4.9 per cent) who spent a total of $15.8 billion (up 4.7 per cent).

“The direct tourism impact of the Games is evident as thousands of media and athletes are complemented by hundreds of thousands of spectators over the next two weeks,” Mr Winter said.

“In the past few days, Destination Gold Coast has been working with visiting international media who are embracing the new narrative of the city.

“Many of these have been enjoying a personal holiday before their work duties start or are planning to stay on after the games to have a vacation, all of which add to the visitor statistics associated with the Games.

“Invariably they are blown away by what this destination offers and those very positive impressions and images will be broadcast around the world.”

Mr Winter said the Gold Coast tourism industry had been preparing for the Games since 2011 and were excited about what the next 11 days will bring.

“Hotels, restaurants, attractions and tours are anticipating a surge of interest, perhaps even from visitor markets they are less familiar with, and these are some of the opportunities that will come our way when we welcome groups from 70 different countries.”

“It is a unique moment in our city’s history and the tourism sector is ready.”

Click here to view the Destination Gold Coast Commonwealth Games webite.

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