Protected areas, such as Magnetic Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, contribute significantly to Queensland’s $23bn tourism industry.Protected areas, such as Magnetic Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, contribute significantly to Queensland’s $23bn tourism industry.Last modified on Mon 4 Apr 2022 03.
“We should be aiming to double [protected land] by 2032,” Dave Copeman, the director of the Queensland Conservation Council, said.Sign up to receive the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning, It is calling on funding in this year’s budget to establish new national parks and private protected areas; ensure effective management of existing and new protected areas; and to support exceptional nature-based tourism activities.
Tourism and environmental groups say international and domestic tourism relies in healthy environments, such as the Noosa Everglades.Nature contributes significantly to the $23bn Queensland’s tourism industry rakes in each year, the alliance said. This includes $6.4bn attributed to the Great Barrier Reef and $3.7bn associated with national park visitation.