Ecotourism Plan for Queensland’s Protected Areas 2023-2028

The Plan acknowledges challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to the tourism industry and outlines the government’s commitment to foster innovative ecotourism opportunities and experiences that allow visitors to actively provide a positive contribution back to Queensland’s protected areas and local communities while helping to rebuild a sustainable, resilient ecotourism industry. The Plan begins to re-frame how we think about sustainable ecotourism and focuses on visitors consciously connecting with and contributing to where they visit. There is also a strong focus on working with our First Nations partners to build their capacity in offering genuine cultural experiences. We want to deliver projects that allow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to showcase their on-Country ecotourism experiences and support their priorities for Country and community.

The Plan details actions to be delivered from 2023 to support six priority areas:

1. Deliver innovative ecotourism products and experiences to showcase Queensland’s world-renowned protected areas.
2. Enhance ecotourism in Queensland’s iconic marine environments through new public facilities to support experiences.
3. Partner with First Nations peoples in planning and delivering ecotourism projects on protected areas to ensure outcomes are culturally appropriate and aligned with First Nations peoples’ priorities.
4. Facilitate new ecotourism projects on land adjacent to protected areas by sustainably reusing developed and degraded land, and continue to promote low-impact ecotourism on DES-managed land such as enhancing camping areas and reusing existing heritage structures.
5. Work with the ecotourism industry and research organisations to develop new regenerative tourism and citizen science offerings on and adjacent to protected areas.
6. Build the capacity of the ecotourism sector operating on protected areas to offer exceptional visitor experiences and reduce the environmental impact of their operations.