A new era of tourism for the state

The state government’s ambitious 20-year plan aims to give authentic experiences for tourists and it might attract a few celebrities along the way.

The state’s new tourism plan will focus on such things as bringing more gigs to the state in the vein of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, glamping and expanding national parks.

The state government is expanding national parks and nature refuges by the equivalent of 9000 Suncorp Stadiums for potential glamping as well as targeting direct flights from India as part of a new 20-year tourism strategy.

The Sunday Mail has been given details of the plan – which aims to “supercharge” the tourism industry to $84bn by 2045 – ahead of its launch on Monday by Premier David Crisafulli and Tourism Minister Andrew Powell.

It will include a massive expansion of national parks to attract growing numbers of tourists seeking “authentic” natural experiences such as glamping, as well as a new aviation fund to subsidise more international flights to the Sunshine State.

A Luxury tent that is a Common lounge on Wilson Island – Photo Steve Pohlner – Rep. Phil Hammond

Mr Powell said the Connecting Queensland fund aimed to attract the first direct services from booming India, which delivered Queensland almost 90,000 tourists last year.

The number of Indian visitors increased by almost 20 per cent in 2024, more than double overall international tourism growth, as their spending on Queensland holidays surged to $230m.

Mr Powell said it was hoped direct flights from Mumbai could be secured in the coming months, with carriers including Air India in the government’s sights.

“The population alone of India is extraordinary,” he said. “They have a burgeoning middle class and a desire to travel and see the world, and they have connections with Australia and Queensland already. The kind of products they want to see – beaches, theme parks, rainforests – we’ve got it all here.”

Mr Powell said funding for a similar aviation fund set up by the former Labor government in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which devastated the tourism industry, was set to expire this year.

The water streams through a hole in the rock in Springbrook National Park.] Escape 23 March 2025 My Travel CV Photo – iStock

He accused Labor of leaving the $33bn tourism industry on the precipice of a “funding cliff”, with a $100m cut to his department’s tourism division. Mr Crisafulli said the Connecting Queensland fund would help the state capitalise on global attention from hosting the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.

“Air connectivity is the gateway to tourism growth, especially in our regional areas,” he said. “But of course, while the focus for us is on bringing visitors to Queensland, these investments will also mean more travel options abroad for Queenslanders, so it’s a win for everyone.”

Eco-tourism will be a major focus of the Destination 2045 tourism plan, with the government revealing it has acquired an extra 9000ha of land to add to the state’s national parks and nature refuges. A total of more than 6550ha has been added to 11 national parks, with 2150 ha transformed into nature refuges in 20 areas of the state.

Mr Crisafulli has set Mr Powell a target to increase protected areas in one term at a greater rate than the former Labor government did, believing they could more than double the current amount.

“The protected area at the moment, in this state, is about 8.58% per cent, it was 7.55 when they (Labor) came to government.

“So I’m saying that I believe we can increase it effectively two and a half times the rate, but maybe a little better as well,” Mr Crisafulli said.

When asked if the announcement of nine new gas projects contradicted the environmental plan, Mr Crisafulli said that it was “complementary”.

“It’s about increasing our protected areas so we do the right thing by the environment, and it’s about sustainably investing in the gas industry so that we do have a transition fuel that will help drive down power prices, but also enable a transition to a renewable energy future,” he said.

Queensland Conservation Council Director Dave Copeman said while the announcement was welcomed, it must be matched with funding in the upcoming budget.

“The recent expansion including these announcements has been made possible by the $262.5m commitment to protected areas expansion by Minister Scanlon in 2022.

“These funds are almost all expended or committed, so the real test for the Crisafulli Government is whether they will add to this funding in the next budget.

Mr Copeman said mining and resource tenaments across the state would pose a key challenge to protecting areas.

“The Government should avoid rushing into expanding new gas fields or mining leases, so that these areas aren’t similarly blocked from being new protected areas before proper biodiversity assessments can be completed.”

Beachfront camping on Whitsunday Island – Whitehaven Beach. Photo: Mark Fitz Escape – Meet the Guide – Tony Ritter Credit: Tourism & Events Queensland

Almost 6000ha has been added to the Malbon Thompson Range national park, near Cairns, to protect cassowaries while Tully Falls national park has been expanded by 45.5ha. Curtis Island national park off Gladstone will grow by 430.6ha to protect eastern curlews.

Five former forest reserves have been upgraded as protected areas, with 18 new nature refuges established.

The government says protected areas now cover almost 15 million hectares, or nearly 9 per cent of the state.

Mr Powell, who is also minister for environment and science, said the extra 8700ha of national park and nature refuges was equivalent to about nine Suncorp Stadiums.

“Queensland is home to spectacular natural environments that we are protecting now and into the future,” he said. “Labor left these 9000ha of important ecosystems unprotected, exposing our native wildlife and ecosystems to pests and other threats. While Labor hid behind bureaucracy and did nothing for a decade, cutting tourism funding, we are working with local landholders to grow our protected areas for generations to come. We want Queensland to be a global leader in eco-tourism.”

Editor’s note:

In August last year the Sunday Mail campaigned for the state government to get serious about attracting big-name music acts like Taylor Swift back to Brisbane after she snubbed the River City during her hugely successful Eras tour.

At the core of the Make Some Noise campaign was the need for a new stadium for the 2032 Games that would be big enough to entice these international superstars.

Now that is ticked off the list, the government needs to work on its major events calendar to capitalise on the extra attention Queensland has on it in the lead-up to the Olympics and Paralympics. Tourism Minister Andrew Powell will unveil the 20-year tourism strategy on Monday and it has to be bold.

Part of the plan needs to be investing in incentives that lure the likes of Swift, as well as global sporting, arts and cultural events that attract international and domestic tourists to our shores. Former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk incentivised the film industry with great success, luring big-name productions to Queensland and creating thousands of jobs.

Our tourism industry and the small businesses that drive it deserve a visionary plan.