COTTON COVERS COAST WITH $1M

THE robust health of the cotton industry has given the Gold Coast economy close to a $1 million business injection thanks to one of the biggest conferences of the year for the city.

More than 1800 cotton industry delegates descended on the Gold Coast this week, marking the biggest turnout for the biennial event in the past 34 years.

The three-day conference, jointly held by Cotton Australia and the Australian Cotton Shippers Association, drew cotton growers and industry participants from Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

“The Australian Cotton Conference is a great opportunity for growers to network as a part of the broader cotton community and connect with the whole supply chain,” says Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay.

“The record number of attendees, well over 1800, speaks volumes for the resilience of our industry and the support the growers give to Australia’s cotton community.

“Importantly, this year has attracted a contingent from the Riverina and Northern Victoria, which are areas the industry is currently expanding in.”

Gold Coast Tourism hasn’t claimed credit for the Australian Cotton Conference, which has been held on the Gold Coast for a number of years.

However, the peak tourism body says it has managed to secure $30 million worth of new meetings, conferences and incentives for the city over the past year.

“The Gold Coast has built a position as a destination of choice for corporate and association meetings, events, conferences, and incentives within the Asia Pacific region,” says Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter.

“We have a majority share of business events held in Queensland and delegates to Gold Coast business events stay longer and spend more than just about anywhere else in Australia.

“Another reason organisers choose the Gold Coast is because more delegates attend a Gold Coast event, the numbers show delegate attendance increases when the event is held here.

“So the Gold Coast is attracting larger groups such as the Australian Cotton Conference as our popularity continues and our venues and facilities continue to improve at award-winning levels.”