A VEGAS-style sign announcing that visitors have arrived on the Gold Coast is part of a mayoral candidate's plan to turn the southern part of the city into a "gateway" to the rest of the Coast.

Gold Coast City Councillor Susie Douglas released her idea in front of stunned southern Gold Coast business owners at a Creek to Creek Chamber of Commerce breakfast last week.

"I want it to look like a gateway with a sign that's like the lights of Vegas welcoming people to the Gold Coast," Cr Douglas said

Chamber president Darren Mackintosh said eyebrows were raised at the comment.

"I think it possibly was the words that caused the eyebrow raises rather than the intent," Mr Mackintosh said.

"What the breakfast with the three candidates (Cr Douglas, David Power and Tom Tate) did show was that there was a lack of understanding on the needs of southern Gold Coast.

"The three were from the centre and north areas. They haven't spent much time on the southern end of the Gold Coast.

"They were talking about surfing to boost the economy. We have had surfing here for 60 years."

Mr Mackintosh said he wanted them to discuss public transport.

Cr Douglas said a lot of people moved through the southern Gold Coast and it was important to make the area look vibrant.

"When people land at the Gold Coast Airport they don't get the glitz and the glamour of the Gold Coast," she said.

"Coolangatta is nothing like it used to be.

"That's why I am supporting the laneway project like the ones successfully done in Melbourne.

"We want tourists to say, 'There is Currumbin!' 'There is Palm Beach!'

"There is so much to offer from the southern Gold Coast's beautiful beaches and estuaries."

Business owners were attending the breakfast last week to hear Mr Tate, Mr Power and Cr Douglas' plans for the southern Gold Coast at a time when businesses can use all the support they can get.