The Gold Coast’s iconic Bleach* Festival will attract its biggest ever crowd in 2019, with the legacy of the Commonwealth Games helping to boost the profile of the event among interstate visitors.
Ms Scanlon said more than 85,000 people were expected to visit the arts and cultural festival over the next 12 days – the biggest crowd Bleach* has recorded since its inception in 2012.
“We’re expecting a crowd of more than 85,000 people at Bleach this year – that means more money pumped back into the tourism industry and more jobs for locals,” she said.
“Bleach played an important part during the Commonwealth Games last year which has helped to boost the profile of the event.
“The fact that Bleach will this year attract more tourists than ever is a great legacy of the Commonwealth Games.
“The continued growth of the Bleach Festival is a testament to the fact that the Gold Coast is a world-class destination for major events.”
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said Bleach* Festival had grown from strength to strength since 2012.
“Tourism is a cornerstone of the Gold Coast economy, generating $5 billion each year and supporting more than 41,000 local jobs,” she said.
“We’re committed to growing these numbers. Working with organisers to grow events like Bleach* is an important part of our strategy.
“Bleach* Festival has been a huge success and is an important feature on Queensland’s major events calendar – which has doubled in value under the Palaszczuk Government and will this year generate $800 million.”
Bleach* Festival CEO and Artistic Director Louise Bezzina said the festival would again offer something different.
“In 2019, we’ll turn the city on with a program of incredible arts experiences that will inspire and invigorate citizens and visitors to the Gold Coast,” she said.
“Bleach* presents its largest festival this year with 28 unique productions and 132 performance over 12 days including four world premieres, and three Queensland premieres, headlined by our centrepiece event, Verdi’s Requiem, on April 27.
“For the first time Bleach* has created a dedicated hub at Burleigh Heads and we look forward to the seeing the largest Bleach* attendance to date.”
