##MP##
Far North Queensland tourism operators have welcomed $15.1 million Federal Government funding to help the industry recover from COVID-19.
The Great Barrier Reef Tourism Protection Initiative will fund 26 Queensland tourism operators to enhance monitoring and conservation as visitors return to the World Heritage Area.
The operators will be involved in reef health and impact monitoring, support on-country visits for Traditional Owners, and crown-of-thorns starfish control.
There will also be projects to develop education and interpretation resources and permitted site interventions such as coral gardening.
##BA##
Special envoy for the Great Barrier Reef, Senator Nita Green, said the investment supports regional communities along the Queensland coast.
“Our Tourism Reef Protection Initiative will provide further support for the marine tourism industry as it continues to respond to COVID-19 impacts.
“The stewardship provided by these operators, in close partnership with the Reef Authority, will provide improved Reef health monitoring capacity, conservation and protection activities across the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
“The services will be delivered by a diverse array of tourism operations, from island-based to long-range expedition style operations including small to medium sized businesses through to large multi-faceted marine tourism operations.”
Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO, Mark Olsen, said the funding will make a significant difference in the region.
##PQ##
“It makes sure that the Great Barrier Reef is beautiful and precious and pristine for years to come.
“We’re seeing great results in coral cover and we’re also seeing fantastic results from the tourism industry in working on programs like the crown-of-thorns starfish.
“But remember, we’re talking about a one-billion-dollar international tourism industry that is currently running at just seven per cent of its pre-pandemic levels.
“On behalf of the industry, Senator Green, we thank you so much for your support for the conservation and the preservation of the of the Great Barrier Reef.”
Dougie Baird, from Quicksilver Cruises, said the funding will help see the industry through a difficult time.
“It gives us a tremendous amount of confidence going forward in what is quite an uncertain economic time.
“That’s particularly after Christmas, where all our agents can confidently book trips with Quicksilver knowing that we will definitely be running.
“This allows us to guarantee that we’ll be operating on set dates, which then allows our travel agents to book on those dates with the surety that we are actually going to travel.”
Perry Jones, from Ocean Free, said the funding will enable greater surveillance of the health of the Reef.
“What it allows us to do is we’ve got lots of moorings out there, but we’ve got one special one, Briggs Reef, which is a real jewel in the crown.
“It’s going to allow us to actually survey the whole reef. We’re going to put send people down 30 meters all the way up to the flats and really check this reef out.
“There’ll be four to six people monitoring it, looking for the crown-of-thorns starfish.
“They come up in a plague sometimes. We want to make sure that we’re checking all the areas, so they don’t just creep up on you and come over the reef.
“It is a beautiful reef and we want to keep it that way.”
