Editing Gold Coast, Queensland (section)

== Economy ==
[[File:Gold-Coast-Skyline-at-Night.jpg|thumb|Gold Coast CBD, 2011]]
In fifty years, Gold Coast City has grown from a small beachside holiday destination to Australia's sixth largest city (and the country's most populous non-capital city). Situated within South East Queensland's growth corridor, the Gold Coast is one of Australia's fastest growing large cities, with a 5-year annual average population growth rate to 2015 of 1.8%, compared to 1.5% nationally.<ref name="ABSSUA15">{{cite web|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3218.02014-15|title=3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2014–15: Population Estimates by Significant Urban Area, 2005 to 2015|date=30 March 2016|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics|access-date=12 September 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908050610/http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3218.02014-15|archive-date=8 September 2016}} Estimated resident population, 30 June 2015.</ref> Gross Regional Product has risen from A$9.7&nbsp;billion in 2001, to A$15.6&nbsp;billion in 2008, a rise of 61 percent.<ref>[[National Institute of Economic and Industry Research]] (NIEIR) November 2007</ref> Tourism remains fundamental to Gold Coast City's economy, with almost 10 million visitors a year to the area.<ref>Tourism Research Australia Domestic and International Visitor Surveys</ref> In the past the economy was driven by the population derived industries of construction, tourism and retail. Some diversification has taken place, with the city now having an industrial base formed of marine, education, information communication and technology, food, tourism, creative, environment and sports industries. These nine industries have been identified as the key industries by the [[City of Gold Coast Council]] to deliver the city's economic prosperity. Gold Coast City's unemployment rate (5.6 per cent) is below the national level (5.9 per cent).<ref>ABS Regional Labour Force Survey February 2009</ref> The declaration of Southport as the [[Gold Coast central business district]] (CBD) and a Priority Development Area (PDA), as well as new investment into the CBD, is driving transformative change and creating new business and investment opportunities.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

The Gold Coast Economic Development Strategy 2013–2023<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/econmic-dev-strategy.pdf |title=Economic Development Strategy 2013–2023 |access-date=25 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910065314/http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/econmic-dev-strategy.pdf |archive-date=10 September 2016 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> outlines the framework for the city's long-term growth and prosperity. The strategy outlines actions in the following areas, Innovation, Culture, Infrastructure, Competitive business, Workforce, International.

===Tourism===
[[File:Palazzo Versace Gold Coast, Australia.jpg|thumb|The [[hospitality]] industry contributes significantly to the Gold Coast's economy. The [[Palazzo Versace Australia|Palazzo Versace]] is a notable hotel on [[Main Beach, Queensland|Main Beach]].]]
The Gold Coast is the most popular tourist destination in Queensland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_cntnhtml.cfm?id=17935 |title=Key Gold Coast Industries Report |publisher=Queensland Government |access-date=2 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013210849/http://sdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_cntnhtml.cfm?id=17935 |archive-date=13 October 2007  }}</ref> It is Australia's 5th most visited destination by international tourists.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tourismaustralia.com/content/Research/Factsheets/TopTen_Regions_Dec2006.pdf |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20080307161815/http://www.tourismaustralia.com/content/Research/Factsheets/TopTen_Regions_Dec2006.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 March 2008 |title=International Market Tourism Facts |publisher=Tourism Australia  }}</ref> Around 10 million tourists visit the Gold Coast area every year consisting of 849,114 international visitors, 3,468,000 domestic overnight visitors and 5,366,000 daytrip visitors. Tourism is the region's biggest industry,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitgoldcoast.com/ |title=Gold Coast, Famous for Fun – Official Gold Coast Holidays Guide in Queensland, Australia|work=VisitGoldCoast.com|date=18 November 2012|access-date=16 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214075551/http://www.visitgoldcoast.com/|archive-date=14 December 2012 }}</ref> directly contributing more than $4.4&nbsp;billion into the city economy every year and directly accounting for one in four jobs in the city<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210814160742/http://www.saltwaterestate.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=9 Salt Water Estate]</ref> There are approximately 65,000 beds, {{convert|60|km|mi}} of beach, {{convert|600|km|mi}} of canal, 100,000 hectares of nature reserve, 500 restaurants, 40 golf courses and five major theme parks in the city.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

[[Gold Coast Airport]] provides connection across Australia and internationally with airlines including [[Flyscoot]], [[Jetstar]], [[Qantas]], [[Air New Zealand]], [[Virgin Australia]] and [[Airasia X]]. [[Brisbane Airport]] is less than one hour from the centre of Gold Coast, and [[Airport railway line, Brisbane|direct trains]] operate.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}[[File:Sea World Entrance-1and (4505997395).jpg|thumb|[[Sea World (Australia)|Sea World]], one of many theme parks on the Gold Coast]]
Gold Coast City has over 13,000 available guest rooms contributing over $335&nbsp;million to the local economy each year. Accommodation options available range from [[hostel]]s to five star resorts and hotels. Tourist attractions include surf beaches, and theme parks including [[Dreamworld (Australian theme park)|Dreamworld]], [[Sea World (Australia)|Sea World]], [[Wet'n'Wild Water World]], [[Warner Bros. Movie World]], [[WhiteWater World]], [[Topgolf]], [[Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[David Fleay Wildlife Park]], Australian Outback Spectacular, and Paradise Country.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
[[File:Q1 seen from the Isle of Capri, Queensland, 2023, 02 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Q1 (building)|Q1]], the [[List of tallest buildings in Australia|tallest building]] in Australia and the [[List of tallest residential buildings in the world|world's tallest residential building]] upon completion in 2005 (currently the [[List of tallest residential buildings|seventeenth tallest]])]]
Since the opening of what was then the world's highest residential tower in 2005 (it is now the 17th highest), the [[Q1 (building)|Q1 building]] has been a destination for tourists and locals alike. It is the second highest public vantage point in the [[southern hemisphere]] after the [[Eureka Tower]] in Melbourne. The observation deck at level 77 is the highest of its kind in [[Queensland]] and offers views in all directions, from [[Brisbane]] to [[Byron Bay, New South Wales|Byron Bay]]. It towers over the [[Surfers Paradise]] skyline, with the observation deck {{convert|230|m|ft|abbr=off}} high, and the spire extending nearly another hundred metres up. In total, the Q1 is {{convert|322.5|m|ft|abbr=off}} high, making it the [[list of tallest buildings in Australia|tallest building in Australia]]. Another famous tourist attraction are the [[Surfers Paradise Meter Maids]], instituted in 1965 to put a positive spin on new parking regulations. To avoid tickets being issued for expired parking, the Meter Maids dispense coins into the meter and leave a calling card under the windscreen wiper of the vehicle. The Maids are still a part of the Surfers Paradise culture but the scheme is now run by private enterprise.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

[[Chinatown, Gold Coast]], is an integral part of the revitalisation of Southport as an international CBD.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/mobile/business/gold-coast-chinatown-17077.html|title=Gold Coast Chinatown|publisher=Gold Coast City Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105180312/http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/mobile/business/gold-coast-chinatown-17077.html|archive-date=5 January 2018|url-status=dead|access-date=5 January 2018}}</ref>{{clarify|date=January 2018}}

===Film production===
{{see also|List of films shot on the Gold Coast}}
The Gold Coast is the major film production hub in Queensland and has accounted for 75%<ref>{{cite web|title=Film Industry on the Gold Coast|url=http://www.shreevella.com/blog/film-industry-on-the-gold-coast|access-date=30 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204221801/http://www.shreevella.com/blog/film-industry-on-the-gold-coast|archive-date=4 December 2014}}</ref> of all film production in Queensland since the 1990s, with an expenditure of around $150&nbsp;million per year. The Gold Coast is the third largest film production centre in Australia, behind Sydney and Melbourne.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}[[File:Grand Entrance - Warner Bros. Movie World.jpg|left|thumb|[[Warner Bros. Movie World]]]]It is the filming site for major motion pictures including ''[[Muriel's Wedding]]'' (1994), ''[[Ghost Ship (2002 film)|Ghost Ship]]'' (2002), ''[[Scooby-Doo (film)|Scooby-Doo]]'' (2002), ''[[House of Wax (2005 film)|House of Wax]]'' (2005), ''[[Superman Returns]]'' (2006), ''[[Unbroken (film)|Unbroken]]'' (2014), ''[[The Inbetweeners 2]]'' (2014), ''[[San Andreas (film)|San Andreas]]'' (2015), ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales]]'' (2017), ''[[Kong: Skull Island]]'' (2017), ''[[Thor: Ragnarok]]'' (2017), ''[[Pacific Rim: Uprising]]'' (2018), ''[[Aquaman (film)|Aquaman]]'' (2018), ''[[Dora the Explorer (film)|Dora the Explorer]]'' (2019)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/movies/we-did-it-dora-the-explorer-puts-queensland-on-her-map-20180318-p4z4x5.html|title=We did it! Dora the explorer puts Queensland on her map|last=Condren|first=Bernadette|date=18 March 2018|work=[[Brisbane Times]]|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319013909/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/movies/we-did-it-dora-the-explorer-puts-queensland-on-her-map-20180318-p4z4x5.html|archive-date=19 March 2018}}</ref> and ''[[Godzilla vs. Kong]]'' (2021).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/gold-coast-lures-hollywood-productions/news-story/b2c93108dfdd5855f4ff36a283b639f4|title=Gold Coast lures Godzilla and King Kong|work=NewsComAu|access-date=2018-10-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008005131/https://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/gold-coast-lures-hollywood-productions/news-story/b2c93108dfdd5855f4ff36a283b639f4|archive-date=8 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Village Roadshow Studios]] are adjacent to the Warner Bros Movie World Theme Park at [[Oxenford, Queensland|Oxenford]]. The Studios consists of eight sound stages, production offices, editing rooms, wardrobe, construction workshops, water tanks and commissary. These sound stages vary in size and have an overall floor area of 10,844 sq metres, making Warner Roadshow Studio one of the largest studio lots in the Southern Hemisphere. The Queensland Government actively supports the film and television production industry in Queensland and provides both non-financial and financial assistance through the Pacific Film and Television Commission.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pftc.com.au |title=Pacific Film and Television Commission |publisher=Pacific Film and Television Commission |access-date=2 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626093105/http://www.pftc.com.au/ |archive-date=26 June 2010  }}</ref>