Following their respective visits to Narooma, the Minister for Tourism Matt Brown and the Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Verity Firth have announced that the deadline for submissions to the Taskforce on Tourism and National Parks had been extended to Friday, August 29.
The government established a Taskforce to examine opportunities to enhance sustainable tourism in national parks and other state reserves, without impinging on the conservation of protected areas.
“Nature tourism is a major drawcard for visitors to NSW and the State has outstanding natural assets with great potential to increase sustainable tourism,” Mr Brown said.
“We want to encourage more partnerships between tourism operators and managers of national parks, forests and reserves to develop a range of nature tourism experiences across the State,” he said.
The Taskforce was established to consult with stakeholders and provide expert advice on encouraging sustainable tourism in national parks and forests. The initiative also supports the recommendations of the O’Neill Review into Tourism.
The Taskforce will report to both Ministers on practical methods to increase visitation in line with NSW State Plan objectives by November 2008.
Minister for the Environment and Climate Change Verity Firth visited Narooma for the second anniversary of the historic hand-back of Biamanga and Gulaga National Parks to the Aboriginal community in May and while she was here she took the opportunity to visit Gulaga.
“About 22 million people visite national parks in NSW each year and by encouraging people into our national parks, we are using one of the best tools we have to teach people about the importance of the conservation,” Ms Firth said.
“There are already a number of award winning tourism partnerships in place that bring visitors in close contact with nature without detracting from a protected area’s conservation value.
“One example is on Montague Island, where visitors can now roll up their sleeves, contribute to conservation work and penguin monitoring on the island, and stay overnight in the newly refurbished lighthouse keeper’s cottage.
“The Taskforce will provide us with recommendations as to how we can foster such activities, but in order to make the best recommendations they need to hear from as many community groups, individuals and tourism bodies as possible.”
Eurobodalla Tourism manager John Pugsley reinforced this.
“I’d like to encourage more partnerships between tourism operators and managers of National Parks, forests and reserves to develop a range of nature tourism experiences across the State.”
“This government initiative is a real opportunity for the Eurobodalla region to develop sustainable tourism experiences using the natural assets of National Parks, forests and reserves in the area,” Mr Pugsley said.
Mr Pugsley went on to say that the Eurobodalla has fantastic resources.
There is an opportunity to develop indigenous guided walks that include Aboriginal culture and history.
“People are in tune with nature and will pay to see the local flora and fauna.” “Nature based tourism is growing throughout the world and this is a great opportunity for local operators to make a submission to the Taskforce,” he said.
The Taskforce is examining issues such as:
• Opportunities for new tour or experience based products
• Ensuring appropriate conservation and biodiversity values remain protected
• Licensing and accreditation standards for commercial operators
• Training needs for guides
• Case studies of successful tourism activities in protected areas
• Identifying any legislative and regulatory constraints.
Written submissions can be sent to: The Secretary, Taskforce on Tourism and National Parks, GPO Box 7050, Sydney NSW 2001 or email parksandtourism@tourism.nsw.gov.a u
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