ADVENTURE AND NATURE BASED TOURISM IN TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Adven ventu ture re and nd Natu ture Ba Based sed Tou ourism sm
Timeli eline ne Oc October ber 2018: : Spoke with Mayors and councillors about building critical mass of ecotourism developments in the north. December mber 2018 to Now: DITID staff visited the area to better understand local priorities, opportunities and industry context
Our ur Findings dings Stre reng ngth ths s and nd weakn eaknesse esses STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES • Location: Gateway to Cape York • Marketing: Marketing could better highlight region rather than focus on local • Environment: Outstanding natural opportunities environment combining reef and rainforest experiences • Seasonality: Peaks and troughs in demand during the week and across seasons • Existing product mix: Diversified product mix including walks, bike trails and • Coordination: Local initiatives failed accommodation options through lack of organisational and/or financial capacity. • Accessibility : Excellent accessibility by domestic and international travellers via an • Traditional Owner involvement: Capacity international airport and capability of Traditional Owners in advancing sustainable projects not fully • Demand: Strong domestic market demand utilised with increasing demand by international visitors • Ageing Product: New investment is required to ‘reinvigorate’ the TNQ tourism offering
Wh What at we saw aw Opp pportu ortuni nities es and nd threa reats ts THREATS OPPORTUNITIES • Alliance approach : Opportunity to build • Incoherent promotion: Failure to coherently partnerships, linkages and relationships promote the whole region as a destination will among key industry result in sub-optimal economic, social and environmental returns • Building on regional strengths: Build on the region’s strengths with a focus on one or two • Stale product : Existing product mix does not “hero” experiences to act as a drawcard. meet changing demand • Packaging: Chance to package opportunities • Regulation: Navigating regulatory to maximise stays in the region environment may delay the development of new tourism products if not supported by • Levering existing opportunities: e.g. Link new government projects to Wangetti Trail, proposed global tourism hub, Cairns Aquarium etc. • Not involving Traditional Owners: Failure to optimise the role of Traditional Owners in the • Product opportunity: The market is moving to development progress may result in experiences rather than destinations. TNQ is opportunities missed. well placed to develop new or expanded experiential product.
How the Queens nsland and Governm rnment nt can help lp o Broaden base of existing Adventure and Nature Based Tourism Opportunities Program from mainly walks to support other project types o Priority on other ‘needle shifting’ ecotourism projects that leverage existing adventure and nature based option o Deliver projects in a manner considered timely by industry to build industry confidence
Role e of Pr Prog ogram Con ontro trol Gro roup An interdepartmental CEO- Role level committee • Prioritise proposals submitted for State Government support • Innovation and Tourism Industry • Facilitate de-risking of priority Development and Comm. Games proposals to optimise private sector • Natural Resources, Mines and Energy investment • Environment and Science • Facilitate the progress of prioritised • State Development, Manufacturing, proposals Infrastructure and Planning • Advise on funding options and where • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander necessary, assist with securing funds. Partnerships
Adven ventu ture re and nd Natu ature e Based sed Tou ourism rism Opp ppor ortuni tunities es Program ogram o Adventure and Nature Based Tourism Opportunities Program delivered by multidisciplinary group of highly skilled, senior level staff from DITID with successful track records in the areas of regulation, business development, commerce, and infrastructure delivery. o ANBTO Program can directly support priority projects by using these skills to help proponents navigate regulation, financing and other commercial arrangements and/or directly deliver infrastructure projects that the private sector can use on a commercial basis (e.g. Wangetti Trail) o Program Control Group oversighting the ANBTO Program can act as a clearing house for issues across Queensland Government and ensure that agencies provide appropriate focus and assistance to priority proponents. PCG and DITID work program set by outcomes of the Projects Pipeline
Projec jects ts Pip ipeli line ne Program Control Group Member Department Senior Officials Group • Considers SOG Nominates projects for Assesses nominations recommendation consideration to Senior Officials against criteria and makes a • Successful projects Group setting out support recommendation to PCG progressed under auspices requirement of PCG
Adven ventu ture re and nd Natu ature e Based sed Tou ourism rism Opp ppor ortuni tunities es in TNQ o Atherton to Gordonvale and Babinda o Daintree to Cooktown o Misty Mountain and link trails o Goldfield Trail o Mission Beach Cardwell MBT/ H track o Sunny Savanah o Kuranda rainforests/ Downhill o Smithfield Expansion Goldsborough Valley o Atherton Forest Bike Park Expansion Babinda o Bump Trail Atherton link trails – Davies Creek, Smithfield, o Gordonvale, Innisfail and Port Douglas Misty Mountain Link Trails – Ravenshoe, Milla Milla, o Mena Creek, Palmerson Highway and Tully Gorge
Cur urren rent t Prior orities es o The ROC members have already nominated several projects for inclusion in the ANBTO Program. o DITID has so far identified four as priorities for consideration by the PCG for inclusion on the work program: • Kuranda Rainforest Trails and Downhill Bike Track • Smithfield Mountain Bike Park Expansion • Atherton Forest Park Extension and Atherton Link Trails • Goldfields Trail
Cur urren rent t Pr Prior orities es Kuranda Rainforest Trails and Downhill Bike Track Smithfield Mountain Bike Park Expansion Goldfields Trail Atherton Forest Park Extension and Atherton Link Trails
Suppor porti ting ng partners ners Tourism Tropical North Queensland Wet Tropics Management Authority o TTNQ was consulted during this work and regarding the o The Program Team are working closely with WTMA to creation of an adventure and nature tourism strategy for progress new and iconic ecotourism experiences such as the Tropical North Queensland. the Wangetti Trail. o TTNQ is supportive of the opportunity to promote o WTMA will be engaged as part of the development of the adventure and nature based offerings in the region and adventure and nature based tourism strategy. have offered to pay 50% salary for an officer to identify and promote existing attractions.
Recom ommen endat dations ns goin ing g forward ard o DITID, ROC, TTNQ to discuss formalising an ongoing partnership to identify significant opportunities for nomination to the Pipeline of Projects. o Develop ROC-based adventure and nature based tourism strategy that integrates/connects new and existing experiences. o TTNQ and ROC discuss funding FNQROC Tourism Development Officer (TTNQ have offered to 50% cost share)
QldEcotourismTrails QldEcoTrails www.ditid.qld.gov.au
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