The Gold Coast superyacht lobbyists trying to clear red tape and get the sector flourishing have a powerful new ally in Tourism Australia.Tourism Australia managing director John O’Sullivan said the national marketing body had identified the superyacht sector as a key part of the premium tourism economy.

Mr Sullivan said a Tourism Australia representative would be going to the coming Monaco Yacht Show to help boost superyacht opportunities.

“It’s one of the things we are looking at with local industry here, having seen the success of what New Zealand has done around that sector,” he said. “We’re sending someone from Tourism Australia (to Monaco) to see what else we can be doing.” His comments are music to the ears of local marine heavyweights aiming to promote the city and country as an untapped market for superyacht visitation and charters.

Gold Coast City Marina CEO Trenton Gay has been backed by Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt in lobbying the Federal Government to ease red tape and the GST cost burden on foreign-owned superyacht charters.

Mr O’Sullivan said it was a niche sector with a lot of potential. “We’re the marketers. We’re not into lobbying the government on legislation,” Mr O’Sullivan said. “But we do think it’s a sector as part of our premium strategy that we’d like to explore more.”

Foreign guests on superyachts spend $15,000 to $25,000 per day on land in Australia in the days before and after their cruise, a study has found.

Ocean Alliance is a Sydney-based full-service superyacht brokerage house.

The company represents a large portion of the superyacht charter fleet operating in Australia and the South Pacific, and source international charter yachts and destinations for clients looking abroad. Their services also include yacht brokerage, charter marketing, commercial structures and yacht management.

Whether you are an experienced yacht owner or charterer or making your first steps in yachting, the team can support your needs.

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