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Ardent Leisure Chairman Dr Gary Weiss has explained that he expects Gold Coast theme park Dreamworld to recover during 2018, rebuilding reputation and reviving visitation, while also expressing confidence in how the upcoming Commonwealth Games will focus on the Group’s other attractions including the Skypoint Observation Deck.

Writing in the Gold Coast Bulletin today, Dr Weiss explains “the upcoming Commonwealth Games will provide a great opportunity to showcase our attractions and venues across the Gold Coast, as well as superb promotion of the whole state to both interstate and overseas visitors.

"The SkyPoint Observation Deck at Q1 will take centre stage during the Games as the best vantage point to take in all that the Gold Coast has to offer.”

Dr Weiss (pictured below) also explained the economic significance of Dreamworld and its ongoing mourning of the victims of its October 2016 ride fatality, writing “as the owner of the largest theme park in Australia, with more than 1,000 full-time and casual employees, who work as engineers, entertainers, ride operators and animal carers, we take our responsibilities very seriously as we work towards recovering Dreamworld’s visitations following the terrible tragedy in October 2016.

"We continue to mourn the loss of four patrons and are working closely with the Queensland Government and our own independent experts to ensure Dreamworld is one of the safest and most attractive theme parks in the world.”

Looking forward, he addresses marketing initiatives and confirms that the halted construction in the Ocean Parade section of the park will become a Trolls themed attraction.

Dr Weiss continues “we are implementing strategies and initiatives to reinvigorate Dreamworld to seek to recover a significant part of the patronage that has slipped away over the last 12 months.

"The Gold Coast Destination Tourism Management Plan (DTMP) builds on the partnership between the City of Gold Coast and the tourism industry and provides a blueprint for success.

"Not only does it address maximising the impact of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, it focuses our industry on those aspects which will drive visitation such as investment in events, new infrastructure and experiences.

"We believe investment, not only at Dreamworld but also in new and exciting experiences across the Gold Coast, is the key to our future success.

"We will play our part by continuing to invest significantly in park infrastructure and new attractions - such as the world’s first DreamWorks Trolls Village walk-through attraction and our recently announced world-class Flying Theatre simulator, expected to open later this year.

"We are currently carrying out a review of the surplus land at Dreamworld and are investigating possible uses to stimulate more visitations to the park and better integration into the exciting developments that are happening in the Coomera area.

"With all of these features and other events planned, I expect Dreamworld to play a big part in the enjoyment of the expected millions of interstate and overseas visitors to the Gold Coast for the Commonwealth Games and the rest of the year.

"2018 will mark a watershed moment for Queensland and Gold Coast tourism and we are delighted to be playing a part."

Click here to read the original article in the Gold Coast Bulletin.

2nd February 2018 - ARDENT LEISURE REPORTS SLOWER THAN EXPECTED GROWTH IN DREAMWORLD VISITATION

25th January 2018 - DREAMWORLD REOPENS POPULAR WATER RIDE 

20th December 2017 - ARDENT LEISURE SELLS BOWLING CENTRES DIVISION FOR $160 MILLION

9th November 2017 - ARDENT LEISURE CHIEF EXECUTIVE SIMON KELLY TO LEAVE AFTER JUST FOUR MONTHS IN ROLE

9th November 2017 - DREAMWORLD REJECTS CRITICISM OF ANIMAL CARE AT TIGER ISLAND ATTRACTION

26th October 2017 - DREAMWORLD MARKS RIDE TRAGEDY ANNIVERSARY WITH QUIET STAFF COMMEMORATION

21st October 2017 - QUEENSLAND POLICE SAY NO STAFF SHOULD BE PROSECUTED OVER 2016 DREAMWORLD DEATHS 

16th October 2017 - QUEENSLAND PARLIAMENT PASSES INDUSTRIAL MANSLAUGHTER LAWS IN WAKE OF DREAMWORLD FATALITIES

29th September 2017 - GARY WEISS TAKES ON CHAIRMAN’S ROLE AT ARDENT LEISURE

14th September 2017 - DREAMWORLD TO REMOVE MOUNTAIN SURROUNDING ITS EUREKA MOUNTAIN MINE RIDE

4th September 2017 - ARDENT LEISURE INVITES REBEL SHAREHOLDERS TO JOIN BOARD

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