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Tourism awards vindicate Tasmanian World Heritage Area development: Government

Sunday, 7 Feb 2016 07:03:07 | Lucy Shannon

Andy Murray of the UK breaks his racket against Kevin Anderson of South Africa during their 2015 US Open men's singles round- four match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center September 7, 2015 in New York.

Opening up Tasmania's World Heritage Area to tourism developments works, according to the industry and the State Government.

Key points:

  • Premier Will Hodgman says the tourism award for Pumphouse Point proves that tourism developments work in the World Heritage Area
  • Mr Hodgman believes the tourism industry understands the value of the natural environment
  • He says the tourism industry is "vitally important" to the state as an employer, and wilderness is a "key issue"

The Tasmanian Government is determined to press on with tourism developments in the sensitive area after success at the Australian Tourism Awards on Friday.

Eco-tourism hotel Pumphouse Point in a former hydro-electric building in the Wilderness World Heritage Area won Best New Tourism Business at the Australian Tourism Awards, 20 years after the idea was first mooted.

Premier Will Hodgman said the award provided confidence that developments in national parks and the World Heritage Area could be done sensitively.

"I think Tasmanians can have confidence given the recognition we got ... that we do eco-tourism, environmental tourism, better than anywhere else," he said.

"We were very bold coming into government, saying let's use our natural assets sensibly and sensitively.

"You get no better group of people who understand the value of our natural environment than our tourism operators."

The State Government wants to open Tasmania's national parks to "sensitive development" and has an ongoing expressions of interest process.

The owner of Pumphouse Point on Tasmania's Lake St Clair, Simon Currant, felt vindicated after winning.

Mr Currant said the award was evidence development in World Heritage Areas could be done well.

"In spite of all the opposition, it's now been proven that providing places where people can experience our incredible wilderness is a key issue for our state," he said

Six Tasmanian tourism businesses won 19 of the 26 award categories at the awards in Melbourne.

Mr Hodgman said the industry was vitally important to the whole state.

"This industry employs so many people, it grows our economy, most importantly it projects what's magnificent about our state to the rest of the world and Tasmania is very much a must-see destination, we're on the top of people's to-do list."

The Government has pledged to increase the state's visitor numbers to 1.5 million a year by 2020.

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