FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gold Coast Airport Marathon reaches record number
Courtesy of the Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism, Major
Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games The Honourable Kate Jones
MP
A record number of participants will line up in the Gold Coast Airport
Marathon next month with almost 5,800 runners already registered for the
main race, two weeks out from the event.
Total numbers across all races are expected to go close to 27,000 for the
37th Gold Coast Airport Marathon on 4-5 July.
Tourism and Major Events Minister Kate Jones said the surge in competitors
in the marquee marathon race was mainly due to strong growth across a
number of key Asian markets, as well as an increase in interstate runners
of almost seven per cent.
"The Gold Coast Airport Marathon is one of the world's premier road running
events," Ms Jones said.
"It was the first marathon in Australia to attain the prestigious IAAF Road
Race Gold Label, and it provides an ideal opportunity to promote the Gold
Coast and the State to international markets.
"The 2012 event attracted 5,732 entrants for the marathon, itself. To break
that record a fortnight out from the 2015 event is an outstanding result.
"The 2015 event is expected to generate more than $20 million and 70,000
visitor nights, which underlines how successful the Gold Coast Airport
Marathon has become," Ms Jones said.
Ms Jones said Events Management Queensland, worked with Tourism and Events
Queensland to identify a number of key markets in Asia where gains could be
made with greater marketing activity following last year's event.
"Work undertaken by TEQ in partnership with Gold Coast Tourism, Gold Coast
Airport and Tourism Australia has generated international interest and
boosted this year's result," she said.
"This year's Gold Coast Airport Marathon is expected to welcome more than
3,000 competitors from overseas across the entire event, which highlights
the global appeal of the running festival.
"On the back of a strategic marketing campaign, we have seen a significant
increase in runners coming from China, while there has also been excellent
growth in registrations from Malaysia and Hong Kong.
"Direct flights to the Gold Coast from Japan with Jetstar, and services
from Malaysia and Singapore with Air Asia and Scoot, have contributed to
the growth from these countries as well as China.
"With Qantas resuming direct daily flights from Tokyo to Brisbane in
August, we are continuing to build our links with Asia and there is the
opportunity to attract even greater numbers to this event in the future."
Ms Jones said Tourism and Events Queensland would host around 30
international media throughout the marathon weekend, to gain additional
exposure for the event in several key markets.
Gold Coast Airport Chief Operating Officer, David Collins, said the airport
was proud to be the gateway to the tourism destination and play a part in
the continued growth of the running festival.
"During our 13-year association with Gold Coast Airport Marathon we have
taken pride in assisting to grow the event, especially in terms of
international competitors," Mr Collins said
"Over that period we have seen international services from New Zealand
expand and welcomed direct services from Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and
Fiji.
"We've no doubt the recent announcement of direct services from Wuhan will
also have a positive impact.
"Domestically, accessibility has never been easier for interstate
travellers with over 25 flights per day from Sydney and more than 15 from
Melbourne.
"It's great to see passenger numbers over Gold Coast Airport Marathon
weekend continue to rise year on year."
The Gold Coast Airport Marathon will be held on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5
July in one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world in
Queensland, Australia.
It is set to attract more than 27,000 participants of all ages and
abilities across a number of events including the Gold Coast Airport
Marathon, Wheelchair Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, Wheelchair 15km,
Southern Cross University 10km Run, Suncorp Bank 5.7km Challenge and Junior
Dash 4km & 2km races.
To enter or for more information visit goldcoastmarathon.com.au
###
|
