Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Parks spokesperson
The Hodgman Government is damaging Tasmania's wilderness tourism brand internationally.*
Travel Bible Lonely Planet has advised travellers to get in quick or miss out on Tasmania's pristine wilderness, "before compromises are made".
Lonely Planet has told international travellers they need to visit Tasmania before our world renowned wilderness is lost and have laid the blame squarely at the feet of the Liberal government.
The Liberals can spruik Tasmania as a tourist destination all they like, but until our wilderness is protected and until the Liberals can be proud of these assets as they are, the wilderness is not safe and Lonely Planet travellers will be wary.
Tourists from across the world rely on the advice of Lonely Planet when making travel choices. They know what visitors value, and in Tasmania it's our awe inspiring parks and World Heritage Area.
The government should be ashamed to have the world eyes on us, while they cling onto a destructive and dying native forest logging industry, refuse to rule out mining in the WHA and openly pimp protected areas to private developers.
Tourism that respects the wilderness and the protection of our wild places are key to a prosperous, sustainable future. The Liberals in government would be smart to heed Lonely Planet's warning.
*http://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel/countries/6?detail=1#ixzz3qZl...
"In Tasmania, the peace accord between pro- and anti-logging forces has been torn up by the new state government, keen to unlock old-growth forest for export. Now is the time to experience these astounding wilderness areas before compromises are made."