A life line for parks
A report in the Brisbane Courier Mail says that visitors would be slugged $10 to $15 every time they visit one of the state’s national parks, under a controversial proposal by a major tourism lobby group.
Visitors in all other Australian states already are hit with access fees, usually on a per-vehicle basis, to enter national park, but in Queensland, fees are only charged for overnight camping and in some cases vehicle fees.
The money raised helps manage and maintain facilities within the parks.
But earlier this year when the rumours of a daily access fee was circulating, Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said the Government had no plans to charge general admission fees, but Tourism and Transport Forum Australia has recommended the fee as part of its recently launched Natural Tourism Partnerships Action Plan.
TTF managing director Christopher Brown said it was only fair that visitors to national parks should make a contribution to the cost of maintaining and conserving those areas.
He said a small fee would not deter the overwhelming majority of visitors, adding, “In fact, research in other states has shown that most people are happy to make a small financial contribution, provided they know their money is being invested back into the park system”.
“It costs around $15 to go the movies, so a $10 to $15 charge for a day in one of our world-class national parks would be great value.”
A spokesman for State Tourism Minister Margaret Keech said the Minister was open to suggestions from TTF and would be happy to talk and discuss the feasibility of the ideas.
The Queensland Tourism Strategy recommends more public and private investment in or adjacent to Queensland national parks.
It says while the Queensland Government provides about $10 million a year to maintain and develop national park infrastructure, more is needed – including walking and nature trails, camping grounds and accommodation facilities.
Mr Brown said arrangements on the Great Barrier Reef were a good model for demonstrating how tourism and conservation could work hand-in-hand.
Each tourist who visits the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park pays an environmental management charge, which is collected by tourism operators on behalf of the park authority.
Funds raised by this charge contribute to all aspects of managing the park.
Mr Brown said new partnerships among the tourism industry, park managers and the conservation sector were needed and the private sector could help provide non-core services in parks, freeing up park staff to focus on conservation activities.
Mr Brown said TTF Australia had worked with federal, state and territory governments, the tourism industry and the conservation sector to develop the Natural Tourism Partnerships Action Plan.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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