PARKS Minister Matthew Groom says new tourism offerings within National Parks and World Heritage Areas must stand on their own two feet. Mr Groom was pressed in Parliament this morning to rule out offering subsidies or in-kind support to developers looking to the state's wilderness areas. He would not rule out offering developers public money, but insisted their business cases must stack up. Greens Parks spokesman Nick McKim seized on the minister's refusal to rule out subsidies. ''It looks like we should brace ourselves for yet another bout of crony capitalism from the Liberals, which ultimately discourages private sector investment by increasing sovereign risk," Mr McKim said. ''I have spoken to many existing tourism operators who are worried about the unfair competitive advantage their competitors look like getting just because they happened to submit to an ad hoc process established by the government.'' Mr Groom confirmed he had rejected 12 proposed offerings within the wilderness areas. ''[I] am satisfied they do not adequately meet the criteria we laid out for the high-level stage one assessment of being sensible and appropriate to the site in question, and able to be financed and operated sustainably,'' Mr Groom said. Fifteen submissions have been approved to proceed to stage two of the expressions of interest process. Among them are mountain bike trails in the North East, boat tours on the West Coast and guided walking tours. Mr Groom said the projects could pump $67 million into the state's economy and create 300 jobs. ''This is a potential opportunity Tasmania cannot afford to ignore,'' Mr Groom said. ''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.'' Details of 10 remaining projects under consideration will be released within nine days.
PARKS Minister Matthew Groom says new tourism offerings within National Parks and World Heritage Areas must stand on their own two feet.
Mr Groom was pressed in Parliament this morning to rule out offering subsidies or in-kind support to developers looking to the state's wilderness areas.
He would not rule out offering developers public money, but insisted their business cases must stack up.
Greens Parks spokesman Nick McKim seized on the minister's refusal to rule out subsidies.
''It looks like we should brace ourselves for yet another bout of crony capitalism from the Liberals, which ultimately discourages private sector investment by increasing sovereign risk," Mr McKim said.
''I have spoken to many existing tourism operators who are worried about the unfair competitive advantage their competitors look like getting just because they happened to submit to an ad hoc process established by the government.''
Mr Groom confirmed he had rejected 12 proposed offerings within the wilderness areas.
''[I] am satisfied they do not adequately meet the criteria we laid out for the high-level stage one assessment of being sensible and appropriate to the site in question, and able to be financed and operated sustainably,'' Mr Groom said.
Fifteen submissions have been approved to proceed to stage two of the expressions of interest process.
Among them are mountain bike trails in the North East, boat tours on the West Coast and guided walking tours.
Mr Groom said the projects could pump $67 million into the state's economy and create 300 jobs.
''This is a potential opportunity Tasmania cannot afford to ignore,'' Mr Groom said.
''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.''
Details of 10 remaining projects under consideration will be released within nine days.
