Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin stressed that these were his personal views rather than those of his organisation.

His comments come amid concerns over the possible resurgence of coal mining in the state, after the state government provided a $50,000 grant to Midland Energy for exploratory drilling at two tenements at Woodbury and Jericho.

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Three other companies also hold coal exploration licences in the state.

Mr Martin said Tasmania was known for its "clean, green brand".

"I very much abide by the thought that you've got to live the brand," he said. "We're known for our wilderness [and] our carbon neutrality that we're on track to achieve as a state ... and I'm just not sure an open-cut coal mine is ... consistent with that brand."

"My immediate, subjective view is that I just don't think a coal mine necessarily aligns with the vision and the brand that we want to represent as a [tourism] industry."

However, Mr Martin said the industry respected any proponent's right to test the "approvals and legislative processes", whether it be the proponent of a new tourism development or the proponent of a mining project.

"If they can run that gauntlet, then good luck to them," he said.

Former Labor premier David Bartlett, who wrote a letter tabled in State Parliament this week objecting to any new coal mining developments, echoed Mr Martin's comments on ABC Radio on Friday.

"It's my very strong view that ... the exploration of new coal mines in Tasmania is not consistent with [our] brand," he said.

Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council chief executive Ray Mostogl said earlier this week that any coal that might be mined at a prospective site in the Midlands would likely go to developing countries trying to "lift their people out of poverty".

A state government spokesperson said the government actively encouraged mineral exploration but noted that it had not granted or been asked to grant a mining lease.

"Any proposal for mining would be subject to rigorous assessment, and must be in the state's best interests," the spokesperson said.