The Hodgman Liberal Government's Expressions of Interest process for tourism offerings in National Parks and the World Heritage Area has set Tasmania on track to becoming the environmental tourism capital of the world.
The EOI process will help reach our target of attracting 1.5 million visitors a year to Tasmania by 2020, creating thousands of new jobs in the state.
It has attracted a wide range of new and exciting proposals, from nature based experiences through to accommodation and associated tourism related infrastructure. Of the 37 submissions received through Stage 1 of the process, I have so far invited 15 projects to proceed to Stage 2.
These 15 projects are distributed across all regions of Tasmania, and if fully realised could represent new investment in the State of over $67 million, and the creation of nearly 300 jobs for Tasmanians.
This is a potential opportunity Tasmania cannot afford to ignore.
The tens of millions in investment and the hundreds of jobs which will be created through this process is a vote of confidence in Tasmania's eco-tourism potential which is only now beginning to be fully realised because of the Government's open for business approach.
Projects proceeding to Stage 2 so far include a number of guided walking tours, boat tours on the West Coast, and utilisation of new mountain bike trails in the North East.
We believe the vast majority of Tasmanians want the State to be open to new, world class tourism experiences in our wilderness areas provided they can be undertaken in a way that respects the cultural and natural values that make these areas so special. That is exactly what the Government is committed to achieving.
I can also confirm today that I have accepted the recommendations of the Assessment Panel that 12 proposals should not proceed through to Stage 2 of the process.
I have reviewed these proposals and the Panel's recommendations and am satisfied they do not adequately meet the criteria we laid out for the high-level Stage 1 assessment of being sensible and appropriate to the site in question, and able to be financed and operated sustainably.
The Government is committed to being open and transparent as we progress through the EOI process. I will continue to work through the remaining proposals and the recommendations of the Assessment Panel progressively and will finalise my consideration of the remaining 10 projects and publicly release details of those projects by 13 March.
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