kabarsula Queensland tourism execs gather for DestinationQ in Gold Coast bandar SLOT INDONESIA

More than 700 tourism operators and industry leaders have gathered on the Gold Coast today for DestinationQ, Queensland’s largest tourism conference, as one of the State’s important industries works through the challenges and opportunities that will shape its growth to Brisbane 2032 and beyond.

The issues on the agenda include the federal government’s changes to working holiday makers, crippling insurance costs and climate resilience.

Held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, the annual DestinationQ brings tourism operators together with industry leaders and government decision-makers to work through the issues that matter most to businesses, from Federal changes to working holiday maker visas to the rising costs of doing business.

The day opened this morning with demographer Simon Kuestenmacher on how changing demographics and consumer behaviour are reshaping who travels and why.

Tourism is one of the pillars of Queensland’s economy. Visitors spend around $45.5 billion in the State each year, and the industry supports more than 277,000 jobs, around one in every 11 Queensland jobs. Ninety-five per cent of tourism businesses are small businesses, many of them in regional communities.

“Tourism is one of Queensland’s biggest economic engines,” QTIC CEO Natassia Wheeler said. “But operators are under real pressure.”

DestinationQ is the centrepiece of Tourism Week 2026, following yesterday’s DestinationIQ at The Star Gold Coast and leading into EventsQ and the Queensland Tourism Awards gala tomorrow.

“There’s real momentum in Queensland tourism, and with government and industry working together, we’re determined to keep that momentum going,” Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell MP said. “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity with the green and gold runway to 2032, and we need to make every year count by attracting more visitors, creating new experiences, and growing opportunities right across our State”

Agendas still to come this afternoon include: Director-General ‘Ask Me Anything’, lessons from the world’s biggest events, brand Queensland, workforce, investment, climate resilience and Brisbane 2032.