Marketing forestry

Accessible tourism need

AS a regular visitor to the state, and being mobility impaired, I wish to raise the issue of accessible tourism. Tasmania is a beautiful state but is falling behind in accessible tourism compared to other parts of Australia. When organising a holiday, there are three main areas people will plan: accommodation, transport and experiences. Until recently, the state didn’t have a hire car for people with disability. An AutoRent in Launceston deserves praise for having a vehicle. If people flew into the state, they would have to rely on friends, buses or taxis.

People with disability enjoy choice and an independence, like anyone else. Some regional authorities promote drive holidays. Seems that is flawed if people can’t access a service everyone else can. And ever tried to see if a wheelchair-accessible IN response to reader Phil Jones, the answer is a definite yes (“Value-add, don’t ship them off,” Letters, March 18). The forest industry welcomes ventures that add value and create employment and we welcome the State Government’s support and policy initiatives. But new investment requires not government investment in the projects, but more in infrastructure to move products to processing points and markets. Tasmania’s economic future is linked to export markets in sectors where we have a competitive advantage. There is growing demand for forest products, especially as people realise they are sustain-