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Tourism and NSW national parks

Tomaree NP Hamilton Lund Courtesy Tourism New South Wales
Tomaree National Park

NSW has an enviable reserve system of world heritage areas, national parks, nature reserves, marine parks, Aboriginal areas, caves, wilderness areas, and regional parks. The diversity and richness of this park system is a strong drawcard for international and domestic tourists and visitors, and helps support a strong tourism industry, creating significant economic benefits for the people of NSW.

The NSW Government's State Plan seeks to increase visitation to our national parks, and reserves by 20 per cent by 2016. To meet this target it is vital that we provide high quality and diverse visitor experiences and promote these special places effectively, while ensuring the protection of their conservation values. 

Ministerial Taskforce on Tourism and National Parks in NSW

In May 2008 a Taskforce on Tourism and National Parks in New South Wales was established by the NSW Government.  The Taskforce was engaged to provide advice on practical methods to expedite the realisation of NSW State Plan objectives, and report on opportunities for an enhanced level of sustainable nature tourism on New South Wales public lands, particularly national parks, marine parks and reserves. The Government emphasised that proposals must be compatible with the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage values of those areas.

Thunderbolts Lookout, Barrington Tops NP Hamilton Lund Courtesy Tourism New South Wales
Thunderbolts Lookout, Barrington Tops National Park

The Taskforce was asked to:

  • identify ways to promote and protect the State's biodiversity and cultural heritage values through appropriate use of its national parks and reserves
  • create a platform whereby visitor numbers and tourism expenditure can be increased
  • identify ways to increase management resources and conservation benefits from tourism in national parks and reserves

Terms of reference can be viewed below.

Final Report

The Taskforce has now finalised its report and the recommendations have been accepted by the NSW Government. The report puts NSW's national parks at the centre of a campaign to make the state one of the world's best ecotourism destinations.

New South Wales Taskforce on Tourism and National Parks Final Report:

The Taskforce held ten meetings, received presentations from tourism and conservation experts, consulted with key groups and called for submissions from the public to inform its findings.  A total of 293 submissions were received from a range of individuals, groups and organisations.

Submissions can be viewed below.

Skywalk, Dorrigo NP Hamilton Lund Courtesy Tourism New South Wales
Skywalk, Dorrigo National Park

Key recommendations of the report include:

  • a focus on iconic experiences in key areas close to Sydney and within three hours drive of major airports in Williamtown, the Gold Coast, Ballina, Coffs Harbour and Canberra;
  • clarifying national parks legislation to make sustainable tourism a clear outcome;
  • a review of accommodation and leasing policies in our parks to provide a clear understanding of the range of acceptable accommodation options, including huts, standing camps and cabins;
  • a state-wide reservation system for accommodation and campsites to allow on-line bookings;
  • changes to encourage sustainable nature based tourism outside parks that will encourage visitors into neighbouring areas;
  • a calendar of regular events suitable to parks and reserves, such as the recently announced 'Island Hopping' event in Sydney Harbour National Park.
  • legislative changes to increase the range of low key tourism experiences and attractions permitted in parks

The Government has accepted the recommendations of the report and will be working with relevant parties on their implementation

Taskforce for Tourism and National Parks: Terms of Reference

Aim: To advise the Ministers for the Environment and Tourism on practical methods to expedite the realisation of NSW State Plan objectives by:

  • identifying ways to promote and protect our state's biodiversity and cultural heritage values through appropriate use of the national parks;
  • creating a platform whereby visitor numbers and tourism expenditure can be increased; and
  • identifying ways to increase management resources and conservation benefits from tourism in national parks.

Terms of Reference:

  1. Propose conservation, visitation and tourism objectives, targets and measures for Parks and related land tenures over the next 1 to 3 years to support State Plan targets and identify planning, development and promotional strategies to support those objectives.
  2. Identify and consult with other potential partners, including industry, other land managers such as NSW Forests and Department of Lands and other States to assist in making recommendations on the delivery of agreed tourism objectives.
  3. Review existing research and information, especially from other relevant jurisdictions, necessary to inform tourism in parks including information to understand potential impacts of tourism on conservation and biodiversity values of parks and commission new research, where appropriate.
  4. Identify any legislative, regulatory and structural constraints to the achievement of the State Plan visitation objectives and make recommendations on overcoming any such barriers.
  5. Assess a wide range of considerations including but not limited to: 
    • developing opportunities associated with the Parks estate, including adaptive reuse of existing facilities, volunteering opportunities, and opportunities for other new tour/experience-based products;
    • ticketing and pricing structures to promote tourism;
    • licensing and accreditation standards for commercial operators, and
    • training needs for guides and visitor services to support the visitor experience and commercial objectives.
  6. Articulate the benefits of tourism in contributing to conservation, including case studies and development models for successful tourism activities in protected areas in Australia and overseas (including comparisons with parks in Victoria and Queensland, highlighting aspects that work, similarities and differences).
  7. Make recommendations as to appropriate terms for a Memorandum of Understanding between DECC and Tourism New South Wales encompassing:
    • stated visitation objectives;
    • the continued protection of appropriate conservation and biodiversity values;
    • the removal of any unnecessary legislative, regulatory and structural constraints to State Plan tourism objectives; and
    • the identification of mechanisms to increase management resources and conservation benefits from tourism in national parks.
  8. The interim report to be presented to the Ministers for Environment and Tourism by the end of September 2008 and a final report by November 2008.

List of submissions

 

 

Page last updated: 04 February 2009