Tourism operators in the Daintree National Park and Cape York will be able to obtain 15-year permits instead of the current three-year term as part of a major package of reforms to help the industry.

Member for Cook Jason O’Brien said the Tourism in Protected Areas initiative will cut paperwork for nature-based tourism operators in the Daintree National Park and Cape York and give them long term security and opportunity to invest and expand their businesses.

Additional key reforms tourism operators will also benefit from include:

• More streamlined reporting requirements to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service that allows operators to submit passenger returns and fees quarterly instead of monthly;
• Renewal of operator permits at the 10-year mark instead of every three years;
• Transferrable operator permits that allow transfer of ownership when businesses are sold without the new owners having to apply for a new permit; and
• New opportunities for new and expanding businesses through re-allocating unused visitor capacity where operators are catering for significantly less tourists than their approved quota.

Mr O’Brien said the package set to roll out in early 2012 was great news for eco-tourism operators and future visitors to the region as products become available to experience the great outdoors.

“This initiative will give the tourism industry much-needed support while ensuring that sustainability and conservation is embedded in everything it does,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The process will be in collaboration with traditional owners and subject to existing and proposed indigenous management agreements. All operators who conduct tours in the Daintree and Cape York will also need to gain and maintain eco-accreditation for the life of their agreement.  

“This will help to strike the perfect balance between tourism and conservation of our state’s most treasured natural parks and tourist attractions, like the Daintree and Cape York that contribute around $4.43 billion per year to the Queensland economy.

“Under the Tourism in Protected Areas initiative these areas will remain world class tourism attractions while ensuring their conservation for generations to come.”