North Queensland ecotourism gem for Destination 2045
- North Queensland to benefit from 20-year tourism plan Destination 2045.
- Ecotourism projects to come under exciting new 45X45 initiative, from Palm Island to Thorsborne Trail.
- Destination 2045 sets the stage for Queensland to become a global leader in ecotourism, Australia's home of events, and a well-connected international destination.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering a fresh start for North Queensland in the newly unveiled 20-year tourism plan Destination 2045: Queensland's tourism future.
Destination 2045 is a visionary roadmap to supercharge the State's tourism industry into a new era of growth, sustainability and global leadership.
From the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding islands to mega events, North Queensland is ready to get off the bench and realise its tourism potential.
Destination 2045 is set to deliver the following tourism projects for North Queensland:
- Thorsborne Trail: enhancements to the Thorsborne Trail, including new facilities, improved signage and trail upgrades and new guided tours on the trail in partnership with Traditional Owners of Hinchinbrook Island National Park (Munamudanamy). World Expeditions, global leaders in small-group, multi-day, sustainable walking experiences, will work with the Bandjin and Girramay People to deliver small group guided tours rich with Aboriginal culture on the trail.
- Improved connectivity: new Connecting Queensland fund supporting better intrastate connections. More cruise ships than ever before set to visit.
- Queensland is home of events: half of events calendar growth will be in the regions including Townsville where games will be hosted during the Rugby World Cup 2027.
- Great Barrier Reef islands rejuvenation: investing in sustainable infrastructure projects on Great Barrier Reef islands.
- Growing agritourism: more agritourism experiences like farm stays and paddock-to-plate offerings, helping farmers improve profitability.
- Boosting drive tourism: making Queensland famous for multi-stop road trips and journeys, getting more people travelling to North Queensland.
- Wet Tropics World Heritage Guides: an exemplar model for tour guide training will launch in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area soon. The Queensland Government through the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, the Wet Tropics Management Authority and Tourism and Events Queensland are working together to deliver the online training program which will lead tour guides and other members of the tourism industry through a series of modules designed to enhance the presentation of the area's natural and cultural values through transformational experience delivery.
- Palm Island Tourism Masterplan: fostering sustainable First Nations tourism and ecotourism with $500,000 towards a major boost to Palm Island's tourism infrastructure.
Destination 2045 aims to more than double the value of visitor expenditure to Queensland's economy to $84 billion in two decades, while employing 25 per cent more Queenslanders directly.
The plan overturns a decade of failure by Labor on tourism and commits to reverse funding cuts planned under the former Government that would have reduced programs and services.
The plan builds on tourism's critical role in Queensland's economy, which currently supports more than 270,000 jobs and generates $115m a day in visitor expenditure. About nine out of 10 tourism operations are small businesses.
Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said Destination 2045 sets a new benchmark for Queensland's tourism industry.
"This plan ensures that we seize the moments in the lead up and generations to follow the 2032 Games – from seamless connectivity to our regions to sustainability promoting our natural assets," Minister Powell said.
"Destination 2045 is the roadmap to ensure Queensland is the home of the holiday and that North Queensland realises its ecotourism potential.
"I am particularly excited to announce that World Expeditions has been appointed the preferred partner to operate fully supported 3-night / 4-day guide walking tours on the renowned Thorsborne Trail, one of Australia's most revered wilderness trails.
"We are equipping our tourism operators in North Queensland to thrive, with tools such as the newly launched online course on the Wet Tropics World Heritage Guidelines, designed for those passionate about delivering unforgettable world-class visitor experiences."
