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Tourism in Protected Areas Initiative

Fraser Island, Great Sandy
National Park. Photo: EPA.

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) manages more than 11 million hectares of public lands across the state. Many QPWS managed areas have significant natural, cultural and recreational values that are a key resource for the State's nature-based tourism industry. QPWS estimates that tourism and recreation in Queensland's protected areas attract over 16 million visits a year.

Commercial tourism operations make parks more accessible for many visitors. They also play a valuable role in increasing enjoyment and enhancing appreciation of these unique areas.

The Tourism in Protected Areas (TIPA) initiative is a new framework aimed at providing a more efficient, effective and equitable system of sustainable tourism management in protected areas. In particular, the initiative was designed to forge a new participatory relationship between QPWS and tourism operators.

Background to TIPA

The TIPA initiative was developed in response to concerns raised by tourism operators about access to Queensland's protected area network. A whole of government approach to addressing these issues included 18 key recommendations to the Queensland government made by a working group of industry and government representatives.

Benefits of TIPA

Implementation of the TIPA framework will provide benefits to the environment, QPWS management and tourism operator businesses. These benefits include:

better protection of key visitor sites through determining visitor capacity;
greater business certainty associated with longer permit tenure for commercial operators under Commercial Activity Agreements;
the introduction of capacity based pricing, capacity trading and subcontracting amongst tour operators;
the introduction of performance standards, accreditation systems and Codes of Practice; and
the use of expression of interest processes to allocate access for new capacity.

Implementation of TIPA

TIPA is being implemented progressively across Queensland's protected area network for certain activities at high-use and high-value premium visitor sites. Commercial tours at glow-worm sites in Springbrook and Tamborine National Parks, and commercial tours on Fraser Island in Great Sandy National Park are the first activities and sites at which TIPA will apply. Over the coming months, the Sustainable Visitor Capacity of these sites will be determined with advice from working groups. Once the Sustainable Visitor Capacity is decided, operators will be invited to enter into agreements with QPWS.

Legislation provisions for TIPA are contained in the Marine Parks Regulation 2006, the Nature Conservation (Administration) Regulations 2006 and the Recreation Areas Management Act 2006. Copies of the legislation can be obtained from the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel.

Getting involved

QPWS, with support from the Queensland Tourism Industry Council and Tourism Queensland, will implement the TIPA framework. During implementation, there will be opportunities for all stakeholders with an interest in Queensland's parks to be involved in TIPA initiatives.

Sustainable Visitor Capacity Working Groups will provide one of the key consultation avenues for interested parties. These groups will be established at TIPA sites and will provide advice to QPWS on appropriate visitor capacity. This collaborative process will involve the local community, recreation and scientific interests and the tourism industry. QPWS will advertise in local newspapers when establishing Sustainable Visitor Capacity Working Groups. To find out what's happening in your area, please contact svc@epa.qld.gov.au.

Further information

Read the Frequently Asked Questions about TIPA.

For detailed queries about the TIPA initiative, please contact:

Manager, Tourism Business and Development Unit

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
PO Box 15155, City East QLD 4002
ph (07) 3227 6803
email tipa@epa.qld.gov.au

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Last updated: 28 September 2006

Activities in parks and forests