Tasmania’s peak tourism industry body has welcomed the draft response by UNESCO overnight calling on the Tasmanian Government to establish a ‘strict criteria’ for new tourism developments within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania, CEO, Luke Martin, said UNESCO’s advice aligns with the industry’s submission on the draft plan recommending clear parameters be established for guiding appropriate tourism activity within the TWWHA.
“Tasmanian tourism operators working within the TWWHA are recognised as outstanding nature tourism operators who care deeply about the environment they share with visitors from across Australia and the globe,” Mr Martin said.
“Just over the last weeks Par Avion and Pumphouse Point have been recognised as the very best in Australian tourism.’
“Strengthening the reputation of our nature tourism sector as world’s best is critical to our vision for Tasmania to be recognised as a global destination for outstanding environmental tourism experiences.
Mr Martin said any proposal for new tourism activities within the TWWHA was already subject to a robust and extensive approval and compliance process through the Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife Service’s Commercial Visitor Service licensing process and Regional Activity Assessments, the Tasmanian Government’s Nature Conservation Act, the Australian Government’s Environmental Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act, and local land use planning processes.
“I’m not sure if UNESCO are aware of the existing process, but we believe Tasmania has one of the most robust frameworks for guiding tourism in protected areas anywhere in the World.
“TICT’s submission on the management plan recommends this be even further strengthened through a clear design criteria limiting the scale of any new buildings or developments within the TWWHA, a ban on any new public road incursions into the TWWHA, and mandatory tourism accreditation and compliance for all operators working within the TWWHA.
“Encouraging more outstanding tourism opportunities in the TWWHA is about encouraging and enabling more people to experience one of the globe’s most outstanding and precious natural and cultural landscapes.
‘Through people experiencing these areas they develop a greater appreciation for why these areas – and others like them – must be conserved, valued and listed as World Heritage.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania, CEO, Luke Martin
