Eric Hutchinson: Tasmania, the international capital environmental tourism?

FEDERAL Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson today welcomed moves by the State Government to set Tasmania up as the international capital of environmental tourism.

Mr Hutchinson is deputy chairman of Trade Minister Andrew Robb’s Government Back Bench tourism committee and part of the Federal Government’s push to attract national and international tourism investment.

“Mr Robb has travelled extensively as Federal Trade and Investment Minister talking to people so that they know that Australia is now open for business,’’ Mr Hutchinson said.

Mr Hutchinson said that State Environment Minister Matthew Groom’s announcement about an advertising campaign to attract the interest of national and international investors in unique, world-class, Tasmanian environmental tourism projects represented a perfect fit for the state.

“It says that Tasmania too is open for business,’’ he said.

“I applaud the work by Mr Groom to set this up.

“Anything that is making more people interested in investing in tourism in this state should be encouraged.

“What we are looking for here are initiatives that are world class.

“We don’t have to compromise the wilderness values that make Tasmania so special and a great place to live.

“This is an opportunity to enhance them.’’

Mr Groom said yesterday that potential developers would be invited to present their ideas for Tasmania’s national parks and World Heritage areas from early next month as part of the new advertising campaign.

Mr Groom said that the state government’s objective was to find a pathway for Tasmania to become the environmental tourism capital of the world.

Mr Hutchinson said that he would be making representations to the relevant federal ministers seeking their support for the campaign.
FEDERAL Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson