Visitor surge puts parks in spotlight

THE state’s national parks are attracting visitor numbers equivalent to nearly three times the state’s population.

Fresh figures released by Premier and Parks Minister Will Hodgman yesterday showed the number of people visiting parks was up 7 per cent this year, according to the latest figures.

But the Greens said the soaring tourist numbers created the risk of destroying the very values that attract tourists in the first place. A total of 1.4 million people visited Tasmania’s parks in 2017-18, with 310,000 people visiting Freycinet National Park and strong growth in visits to the Tamar Island Wetlands in Launceston, Highfield House at Stanley and Tasman Arch on the Tasman Peninsula, as well as Lake St Clair.

“These increases mean that more people are travelling to our regions, adding to our regional economy by staying longer and spending more,” Mr Hodgman said.

“The Government is committed to making Tasmania the environmental tourism capital of the world and these latest figures show that our plan is working.”

Mr Hodgman said National Parks supported 200 naturebased tourism operators who create thousands of jobs for Tasmanians.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the numbers highlighted the need to better manage and preserve the state’s protected areas.

“While being able to share our protected areas with visitors is a positive, the Liberals’ ever increasing growth model puts them at risk,” she said.

“Tasmania’s National Parks are protected for their outstanding natural and cultural values.

“Under the Hodgman Liberals’ exploitation agenda, set on ever increasing numbers while handing them over to private profiteers and the wealthiest of tourists, they’re at risk of being loved to death.

“If we don’t manage the visitation, we risk degrading or destroying the wilderness that draws people to Tasmania.”

Ms O’Connor said that Freycinet in particular was under threat from cruise ship visits, helicopter overflights and projections of 1600 visitors an hour on the Wineglass Bay Track within a decade.

“We know exactly why people are coming from around the world to see Tasmania’s National Parks, but they can’t be put at risk by visitation en masse. Tasmanians want the beauty and natural values of our parks protected.”