There have been 1 million trips on public transport to and from the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

The figure was revealed as Games bosses defended warnings about potential traffic chaos in the lead-up to the event, with complaints from some businesses about a dearth of tourists on the Coast.

GOLDOC chair Peter Beattie says messages about the need to use public transport worked. Credit:AAP Image/ Tim Marsden

Since Thursday, the G:link service carried almost 100,000 passengers a day, more than three times the daily average since the opening of the Gold Coast light rail stage two.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the increase in passengers showed how important light rail was to the Gold Coast's public transport network.