Tourism operators can hear about the latest ecotourism trends, technologies and global case studies at a series of forums aimed to help them build tourism capacity through sharing stories of Queensland’s famous natural icons.

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey said the forums would be led by Tourism Queensland and were part of the National Landscapes program.

“The Great Barrier Reef, Wet Tropics and Green Cauldron have been named National Landscapes as part of a program between Tourism Australia and Parks Australia to promote areas of outstanding natural beauty and cultural significance,” Ms Stuckey said.

“The National Landscapes program aims to achieve conservation, social and economic outcomes for these regions by promoting superior nature based tourism experiences.
“This initiative is in line with the Newman Government’s commitment to Queensland’s tourism industry, and in particular ecotourism – a key theme of the DestinationQ Forum held in Cairns.
“One of the main reasons international visitors come to Queensland is to enjoy our natural attractions, which is why we must provide new and engaging experiences to keep these natural wonders at the top of people’s bucket lists.
“The forums will bring operators together to share their knowledge of these spectacular natural settings and discuss new ways to promote memorable experiences for visitors.”

Tourism Queensland Acting CEO Leanne Coddington said participants would receive practical advice from industry leaders to help better connect visitors with these special places, people and cultures.
“Following the forums, one-on-one mentoring will also be available to help operators develop tailored experiences that meet and exceed visitor expectations,” Ms Coddington said.
Ms Stuckey said tourism was one of the four pillars of the Queensland economy and the aim of the program was to identify and increase ecotourism opportunities in Queensland.

Dates and locations for the forum include:

-    Southern Great Barrier Reef operators – 7 November (Brisbane)
-    Whitsundays operators – 14 November (Airlie Beach)
-    North Queensland operators – early December (Cairns)