The Gold Coast has delivered its largest-ever international famil program, using the city’s first-ever Indian Men’s T20 cricket clash as the backdrop for a major push across tourism, business events and international education.
Experience Gold Coast welcomed 34 high-profile Indian delegates — spanning entertainment, content creation, travel trade and business events — in a bid to deepen ties with what is now Australia’s fifth-largest economic partner. The famil coincided with the fourth Australia v India T20I, which drew more than 20,000 fans, setting a new record for cricket attendance on the Gold Coast and drawing tens of millions of broadcast viewers across India and Asia.
Delegates experienced a curated itinerary designed to highlight the Gold Coast’s lifestyle and its diverse appeal for leisure travellers, incentive groups, and international students. Highlights included:
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
- Hot air ballooning
- O’Reilly’s Vineyard and Alpaca Farm
- Sea World Helicopters
- HOTA – Home of the Arts
- Iconic dining at Rick Shores
Experience Gold Coast says this cross-sector program — the biggest in the organisation’s history — is set to drive long-term returns in tourism, investment, international education and business events.
The initiative was delivered in partnership with Tourism Australia and Tourism and Events Queensland, and featured high-profile Indian celebrities and influencers whose combined social media reach exceeds 50 million followers. Their content is already helping position the Gold Coast as a must-visit destination for Indian travellers.
Jason Lucas, International Director at Experience Gold Coast, said India’s importance continues to surge. “India is our fifth-largest international visitor market, and it’s growing fast — with visitation up 44 per cent year-on-year,” he said. “By bringing key trade, content and business leaders here during such a high-profile sporting moment, aligned with India’s love of cricket, we’ve positioned the Gold Coast to be front-of-mind for investment, leisure, business events and study opportunities.”
The famil also placed strong focus on the Gold Coast’s premium business events offerings, including YOT charters, Kirra Beach House dining, and scenic helicopter transfers into the hinterland.
Brooke Campbell, Director of Business Events at Experience Gold Coast, said the program showcased the Gold Coast’s unique capacity to deliver world-class incentive and delegate experiences.
“Whether it’s an unforgettable incentive program or a major international conference, the Gold Coast offers luxury accommodation, unique off-site venues, and unforgettable experiences, all within 30 minutes of our world-class conference facilities,” she said.
In addition to the international cohort, the famil hosted 12 key onshore education agents who actively recruit Indian students — a group that now forms the second-largest international student community on the Gold Coast.
Matt Boyd, Executive Director of Education at Experience Gold Coast, said introducing agents to the city’s institutions and lifestyle is vital to student attraction. “These education agents play a crucial role in helping students choose the Gold Coast as their study destination,” he said. “Connecting them with our institutions, industry partners, and our welcoming community — while showcasing the lifestyle that makes the city so special — is a huge part of our work.”
