Grey nomad numbers in Tasmania may be dipping as travellers start to head north … but the impact of a bumper season on the Apple Isle may be felt for a long time to come.
With tourist numbers at Freycinet National Park set to exceed 300,000 this year for the first time, talk is turning to how future environmental damage can be minimised … with capping tourism numbers one of the suggestions.
State Environment and Parks Minister Matthew Groom told the ABC that a tourism master plan will have to be developed for the park.
“It’s a great story for the local community, it is a great story for local businesses, but it does present challenges,” he said. “It’s really important that we are properly planning and making good decisions.”
One leading environment group has suggested that capping tourist numbers should be on the agenda.
The Freycinet Action Network says the park’s broader management plan was out of date, and it wants the master plan to fully address cultural and environmental issues.
“You have got to manage the impact of tourists on the park and what the park is capable of holding in terms of tourism numbers,” the Network’s Sophie Underwood told the ABC. “So, it is a holistic approach.”
One of the park’s well-known challenges is a lack of parking, particularly at Wineglass Bay, and the government has just announced it is to allocate $100,000 in next month’s budget to provide an extra 80 car spaces.
“It is really about addressing some of the immediate challenges that we have got, things like transport logistics, things like upgrading tracks and toilet facilities,” said Environment and Parks Minister, Mr Groom. “We are absolutely committed as a government to making sure that we deliver a world-class experience in a way that is consistent with the Tasmanian brand, and one that is sustainable for the future.”
One of our Tassie favourite spots & we are booked into our usual Parks & Wildlife site with beach access at Coles Bay from this Thursday to Sunday Morning – $16 a night with power, water, grey water sullage outlet, toilets & showers for $2. Walk around the beach & foreshore to shop, cafe & a bit longer scenic walk to the pub for a meal etc. It suits us to go often between May to November as it is very crowded in the area over the December to Easter period so we leave it to the families & tourist to enjoy & we then use our yacht more.