More than 700 tourism operators meet in Gold Coast for DestinationQ

The event focuses on challenges and opportunities in Queensland's tourism industry.

By SafarSamachar Desk5 Nov 2026, 11:00 am IST

Illustration

Illustration: SafarSamachar Pix Desk, created with AI assistance. Not a photograph of the event.

Key facts at a glance

1More than 700 tourism operators and industry leaders gathered on the Gold Coast for DestinationQ.
2Tourism contributes $45.5 billion annually to Queensland’s economy.
3Tourism supports more than 277,000 jobs in Queensland.
4Ninety-five per cent of tourism businesses are small businesses.
5DestinationQ is the centrepiece of Tourism Week 2026.

More than 700 tourism operators and industry leaders gathered on the Gold Coast for DestinationQ, Queensland’s largest tourism conference. The event, held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, focused on challenges such as changes to working holiday maker visas, insurance costs, and climate resilience.

Tourism contributes $45.5 billion annually to Queensland’s economy and supports over 277,000 jobs, with 95% of tourism businesses being small operations. The conference was part of Tourism Week 2026, with events including DestinationIQ, EventsQ, and the Queensland Tourism Awards gala following the main conference.

The agenda included discussions on demographic changes and the future of the tourism sector. QTIC CEO Natassia Wheeler highlighted tourism as one of Queensland’s biggest economic engines. The event also took place just after DestinationIQ, which was held at The Star Gold Coast the previous day.

What this means for travellers

Travellers interested in Queensland’s tourism sector may want to keep an eye on developments discussed at events like DestinationQ, which address key issues affecting the industry.

Sources

TTravel Weekly Australia

This brief was written with AI assistance from the reports listed above, following our accuracy rules; it has not yet been individually reviewed by an editor. Read our editorial policy.Rules and schedules change - confirm with the airline or embassy before you travel. Spotted an error? Tell us.