Eco-tourism leaders on national park commercialisation
Tourism leaders in Cairns this week have weighed in on the controversial decision to allow new accommodation to be built in the Hinchinbrook National Park.
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- Cape Richards resort clean-up to pave way for new eco tourism
- One eye on eco-retreat planned for Hinchinbrook Island
TOURISM leaders in Cairns this week have weighed in on the controversial decision to allow new accommodation to be built in the Hinchinbrook National Park.
Speaking to the Cairns Post from the Global Eco Asia-Pacific Tourism Conference, Ecotourism Australia director Tony Charters said it was possible to strike a balance between commercialisation and sustainability.
“If it’s done to a very high standard then it’s just another contributor to people getting a better understanding of the environment,” he said.
“It’s generating local jobs, it’s generating a value in the protected area from the community and if it’s done to high standards, I see it as a positive thing.”
Details from the State Government have been scant regarding the operator of low-impact accommodation at three sites along the 32km Thorsborne Trail but the clean up of the failed Cape Richards resort is in full swing.
Tourism Queensland chairman Brett Godfrey’s Australian Walking Company is understood to be included on the shortlist for the lucrative opportunity following the release of expressions of interest in February.
Mr Godfrey referred himself to the Queensland integrity commissioner but opposition tourism spokesman David Crisafulli believed the potential conflict of interest could be managed.
“He has got a track record of doing things,” he said.
“He must be Australia’s most frustrated board member.
“He wants to do things in the eco-tourism space but there is a government that is captive to the Greens in Brisbane.”
Originally published as Eco-tourism leaders on national park commercialisation
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