Let the beauty do the talking

TOURISM TACTICS

LONELY Planet just voted the best regional destinations worldwide for 2020. Lord Howe Island the only regional Australian destination to make the list came in fifth. Not for them ceaseless taxpayer money wasted on marketing campaigns, they simply cap visitor numbers at 400 and let the beauty of the island do the rest. Residents have known for many years that protecting their asset was the best way forward for tourism. There is no traffic congestion, no queues to visit points of view, no problem with homelessness.

The lesson for politicians and tourism managers is obvious: small islands of natural beauty need sympathetic development and tourism numbers capped. Wilderness to be cherished not abused. Maybe a study tour junket for Tasmanian politicians and industry leaders is needed to open their eyes to what is being achieved elsewhere. Chris Wells Battery Point

Arts grant falls short

REGARDING the $2 million grant to Mona to improve tourism in the Huon. Where is it going to improve anything? The 2000 Crows cawing in the forest did not benefit many of our small Huon businesses because only three cafes stayed open to cater for them. The container parked in Geeveston has achieved similar, sweet nothing. Yet I have 30 to 40 small businesses who want a Huon Arts and Sculpture Trail to happen this summer, to promote and buy the work of local artists. If I had some of that financial backing I could buy the work from the artists and put it in the venues and make it happen! That would benefit many small businesses and artists in Grove, Ranelagh, Franklin, Glen Huon, Port Huon and Geeveston. What is Mona doing that is benefiting any of these businesses? As yet, nothing. Fern Vella Crabtree

Bob Jelly at home

MANY are calling for air travel to be restricted to reduce carbon emissions. Jets, particularly long haul, leave a large carbon footprint. Yet there are calls for an international airport, with more flights. No wonder children are concerned. To add insult, next year some 355,000 ha of our state forests could be reopened to logging and we have some 146 cruise ships belching out far more harmful pollutants than our cars and trucks. Climate emergency, not in this state, economic growth, development, jobs, tourism, Bob Jelly from Sea

Change would be right at home. Glen Pears Geilston Bay

Off the beaten track

CAN someone explain what Jonathon Duniam stands for? In “Tree-sit protest goes on in Tarkine forest” ( Mercury, October 29), Mr Duniam scoffed at the suggestion the Tarkine forest should be granted national park status and criticised those suggesting it should be as “Left-leaning … skewed” and “having no credibility”. Then as Assistant Minister for Regional Tourism Senator Duniam said the intention was to get tourists “off the beaten track”. I would have thought if that’s what he wants, then assisting in turning the fabulous Tarkine forest into a national park would help him increase off-track tourism even more. Go figure? Philip Sumner Blackmans Bay

Destination overload

SENATOR Jonathon Duniam’s launch of the Tourism Australia campaign is bad news for Tasmania ( Mercury, October 30). Ever increasing numbers is the last thing needed by some of the places included in the pitch to international visitors. Bruny Island, Cradle Mountain and the Freycinet Peninsula are already in danger of being loved to death. Clearly, Senator Duniam lacks understanding of the overcrowding issues already destroying the visitor experience at these precious locations. Jane Wilson Kingston

Don’t log the drawcard

I HAVE great concern regarding proposed logging in your world-renowned wilderness on the West Coast. I travel regularly from Western Australia to experience the beauty and uniqueness of your forests along the West Coast. Logging old-growth is illogical because perceived short-term benefits from the unsustainable taxpayersubsidised logging industry cannot outweigh long-term benefits of tourism and service industries, which are widely noted as your most reliable economic driver. Please stop logging your assets. Paul Robb Wubin, WA