Tasmania’s peak tourism body has urged Tasmanians concerned about what new tourism activities may or may not be proposed for the State’s protected areas to inform themselves with the facts rather than fall for the rhetorical flourish and hyperbole of Bob Brown and Vica Bayley.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO, Luke Martin, said he was increasingly alarmed at the tactics being adopted by conservationists to denigrate tourism operators working within Tasmania’s protected areas, and mislead Tasmanians about what new tourism activities will mean for these areas.
“Unfortunately is seems tourism is now the target for the same tried and true tactics adopted by environmentalists towards other Tasmanian industries of presenting emotive rhetoric and mistruths as fact to alarm Tasmanians and create division in the community.
“There are no ‘resorts’ proposed for the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
“Nor are there any ‘$500 a night’ lodges proposed that will in anyway impede upon Tasmanians capacity to continue to enjoy these areas as we do now.
“What is proposed for the wold heritage areas are simply more of what we already offer in these areas now – small-scale, low impact, walkers accommodation.
“For Bob Brown to make the comparison between a walkers hut in the south-west and a casino being developed at Westminster Abbey says more about his uncompromising, ideological outlook on these matters than what is really going on.
Mr Martin also accused the conservationist groups rallying against the tourism industry of hypocrisy pointing to these groups own desire to see tourism grow and expanded across the Tasmanian reserve system.
“The Wilderness Society and many of the same groups today bemoaning the low-impact proposals put forward by industry were in 2004 advocating for $40 million in new and upgraded public roads within the TWWHA to encourage greater tourism activity in these areas as the answer to forestry.
“If these groups want to debate inappropriate development and visitor activity within the TWWHA, let’s start with the impact more roads will have on these areas.
“The tourism industry appreciates the passion many Tasmanians share for our wild places and the opportunity to have a sensible debate over the future of tourism in these areas.
“But the industry will not stand for being misrepresented by those driven by ideology and personal grievances rather than practical outcomes.”
Luke Martin Chief Executive Officer Tourism Industry Council Tasmania
