In Australia, casino operator The Star Entertainment Group Limited has announced that it has received official government approval to build a second tower next to its Jupiters Hotel And Casino Gold Coast in Queensland with construction set to begin early next year.

According to a report from The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, the first new tower for the Gold Coast venue was announced in February and work on it is well underway with the facility expected to be open before the start of the XXI Commonwealth Games in April of 2018.

The Star Entertainment Group Limited reportedly revealed that the second tower, which is being developed in partnership with Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited and fellow Hong Kong-listed firm Far East Consortium International Limited, is set to be over 656 feet in height and feature some 700 rooms to a 4.5-star standard along with an eight-floor resort-style pool facility.

The Brisbane-based casino operator moreover reportedly declared that the newest tower will sit alongside the under-construction 600-room development and its Jupiters Hotel And Casino Gold Coast in the suburb of Broadbeach and has an expected opening date sometime in 2020.

“I would like to thank the Queensland government for its ongoing support as we create a world-class tourism asset that will contribute significantly to the appeal of the Gold Coast and this state,” said Matt Bekier, Managing Director for The Star Entertainment Group Limited. “With increasing tourism out of Asia and China, together with strong domestic tourism figures, Queensland is well-placed to capture this growth but needs enhanced tourism product to meet the demand.”

The Star Entertainment Group stated that the two new towers are part of a $620 million redevelopment of its Jupiters Hotel And Casino Gold Coast and will add almost 1,400 rooms while providing employment for some 1,000 locals.

Geoff Hogg, Queensland Managing Director for The Star Entertainment Group Limited, reportedly told the newspaper that refurbishment of its 31-year-old Jupiters Hotel And Casino Gold Coast should be finished by the end of the month with the property subsequently due to be re-branded as The Star Gold Coast.

“We are also well beyond the halfway milestone in the build of the 17-story and six-star hotel tower at the front of the property and it remains on track to be fully operational before the [XXI Commonwealth Games],” Hogg told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk reportedly detailed that the development agreement includes a partnership with Technical And Further Education Queensland to offer a six-star international hospitality service program.

Palaszczuk moreover proclaimed that the total number of tourists vacationing in the Gold Coast region for 2016 had risen by 12% year-on-year to 4.7 million with China contributing the largest number of non-Australian visitors at 267,000.

“Overall visitor stays increased by 52% with the average length of stays increasing from 4.8 nights to 5.5 nights,” Palaszczuk told the newspaper. “So this is another vote of confidence in Queensland and the Gold Coast as a must-visit tourism destination.”