Qld eco-tourism lacks cohesive plan, says Auditor-General

The state’s Auditor-General has issued a scathing assessment of the Queensland’s eco-tourism strategy, finding a lack of direction.

Queensland‘s Auditor-General has issued a scathing assessment of the government’s eco-tourism strategy for the state, with a new report finding a lack of clear direction between key stakeholders.

With the state’s tourism industry economic contribution diving 20 per cent since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, the government has been at pains to push its various tourism-boosting plans including to make Queensland a world leader in eco-tourism.

But in a 44-page report released to Parliament on Tuesday, Auditor-General Brendan Worrall acknowledged while various groups and the Tourism Department had worked on the strategy, “their success to date has been limited”.

He noted over the past decade the Department of Environment and Science had approved just three eco-tourism facilities in national parks, with two more in development, and said the approval processes and delivery of these developments were lengthy, complex, and costly.

“The state’s tourism and environmental entities face a difficult challenge between protecting Queensland’s unique natural environment and deriving economic benefit for Queenslanders,” he said.

“Historically, the balance has tended to lean in favour of conserving protected areas (national parks, conservation parks, nature refuges, and special wildlife reserves) with relatively few eco-tourism proposals progressing to successful development and operation.

“The absence of a statewide policy on eco-tourism means it is difficult to measure the development of eco-tourism outside Queensland’s protected areas.”

Eco-tourism in the Daintree in Far North Queensland

The Auditor-General also said there were no clear goals or priorities for developing eco-tourism both within and outside Queensland’s protected areas.

A new strategy named Towards Tourism 2032– Transforming Queensland’s Visitor Economy Future was launched by the government late last year.

“(The strategy) includes a greater focus on, and some actions in, developing eco-tourism and nature-based tourism. But the strategy falls short on providing the clarity of government policy, priority, and risk appetite needed to stimulate greater eco-tourism investment and benefits,” he said.

“In the interim, the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport and the Department of Environment and Science could provide more support to proponents to navigate the system.

“They could also do more to leverage the competitive advantage of the many other natural areas outside of protected areas.”

Making four recommendations, Mr Worrall pushed for the government to develop an overarching statewide policy position on eco-tourism, for both on and off protected areas.

Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the government accepted all the report’s recommendations.

“Queensland’s many iconic, awe-inspiring natural assets have already been identified by the industry led Towards Tourism 2032 road map to help rebuild and grow our international visitor economy,” he said.

“We’re already putting runs on the board for developing sustainable eco-tourism infrastructure adjacent to protected areas with six projects attracting $9.2 million in Palaszczuk Government co-funding.

“These projects alone are predicted to encourage an extra 200,000 holiday-makers to enjoy Queensland’s great lifestyle and generate nearly $64 million for the state’s visitor economy.”

Originally published as Qld eco-tourism lacks cohesive plan, says Auditor-General