February 25, 2022 | By Joyce DiMascio | Image: BCEC | Credit: South Bank Corporation
Brisbane has secured the rights to host the International Population Conference in 2025, bringing the event to Australia for the first time.
Two thousand delegates are expected to attend the event at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC).
BCEC and the Australian Population Association, Tourism and Events Queensland, Tourism Australia and the Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA) worked together on the bid.
Bid convenor, Professor Edith Gray, Head of the School of Demography at the Australian National University, said Australia’s international reputation for population research was a factor in the selection of Brisbane as the host city for the conference.
Queensland’s Tourism Minister, Stirling Hinchliffe, said Queensland benefited from interstate and international tourism and migration and that migration contributed to the state’s economic success.
“The Palaszczuk Government understands how important major conferences are to Queensland tourism and jobs in the state’s business events industry. That’s why we’ve partnered with federal and local governments to secure this significant international conference.
“It’s predicted the six-day, 2025 International Population Conference will contribute more than $7 million to Brisbane’s visitor economy, which is terrific news for the city’s accommodation and tourism operators.
“Securing the 2025 International Population Conference highlights the quality of Queensland’s academic research expertise and Brisbane’s place as an emerging global city,” he said.
Tourism Australia supported the bid through its Business Events Bid Fund.
The agency’s managing director, Phillipa Harrison said attracting large-scale international events would help generate global attention for Australia as a world-class business events destination.
“As Australia reopens its international borders to the world this month, securing events like this will help to boost the recovery of our tourism industry and economy more broadly,” she said.
BCEC’s General Manager, Bob O’Keeffe AM, said securing the world’s most important population conference was the result of a strong team effort.
“A return to business events is vital for the Queensland economy and as we navigate a more positive post-pandemic landscape, this major win for Brisbane represents an appetite for face-to-face meetings to return in strength,” he said.