THE Tasmanian government is fully committed to the careful and responsible management of our wilderness areas, including the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. We also recognise the importance of remaining open to the significant tourism opportunities these areas can offer.
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As a World Heritage Area, the TWWHA is meant to be enjoyed, celebrated and shared with the world.
UNESCO itself recognises sustainable tourism as playing an important role in the management of World Heritage Areas.
This is why the recently released draft TWWHA Management Plan seeks to support sensitive and appropriate tourism opportunities, while at the same time protecting and preserving the area's World Heritage values.
The draft management plan does not in any way retreat from this commitment.
What we are seeking to enhance is the opportunity for Tasmanians and visitors to see and experience the World Heritage Area.
It is a vast and wild area. It is outside of many people's capabilities to experience if we are completely closed to the idea of sensible tourist infrastructure.
Market research shows that nature-based tourism is growing across the globe. World-class ecotourism experiences are one of the main reasons for international and domestic visitors to travel to Tasmania.
Ecotourism is now one of the state's greatest economic advantages, and the wilderness is at the very heart of this advantage.
The government recognises that while our natural areas are a core attraction, it is critical that new, high-quality tourism experiences continue to evolve in response to changing visitor demand and expectations.
By unlocking natural areas to allow for new tourism experiences, we can create important economic opportunities for Tasmania while also contributing to the conservation of the natural and cultural environment.
This is a balance we can achieve.
There is also real potential for exciting new career paths for young Tasmanians.
Through TasTAFE, training and study are available in Outdoor Recreation, Eco and Adventure Guiding, Tourism and Travel and Hospitality.
UTas is offering courses in tourism, with a strong focus on sustainable nature and wilderness tourism ventures.
Increased recognition of cultural heritage and a greater emphasis on co-operation with Tasmanian Aboriginal people is another significant feature.
The globally significant cultural heritage of the area has not been properly recognised in previous plans.
Since the release of the draft, people from all backgrounds have welcomed the opportunity for a sensible balance between sustainable tourism and protecting and celebrating the wilderness.
Unfortunately, a small minority in the community seems to have missed this point, perhaps motivated by other political objectives.
I would encourage these parties to give credit to our world-class tourism industry and understand what can be achieved in concert with protecting wilderness values.
Another distraction has been the suggestion the government is seeking to allow large-scale logging in the area.
This is simply not true and it is not permitted under the draft plan or the existing legislation.
The plan simply acknowledges an existing right to consider very small-scale selective harvesting of special species timber at some future point, should that be required to help sustain Tasmania's boutique wood craft and wooden boat building sector.
There is nothing new in this - the right currently exists under the existing plan and law.
Any future application for small-scale selective harvesting of this kind would need to go through a stringent approval process under the existing legislative framework.
This is a draft plan that is subject to a public consultation period through to March 22. I encourage everyone to have their say.
Matthew Groom is Tasmania's Environment, Parks and Heritage Minister.