Whilst data can help decisionmakers pinpoint where changes are occurring, further collaboration and engagement with industry, and between government departments and bodies – such as the DTIS, the DES, and Tourism and Events Queensland – is crucial to fully understand changes in visitor behaviour and to inform future ecotourism infrastructure development and marketing needs and opportunities.
Through strategic collaboration, tourism bodies and operators can use shared data and insights to better design services, experiences, employment opportunities, and infrastructure that not only protect but nurture Queensland’s unique biodiversity for future generations.
So, let’s put this in context. In 2016 the Great Barrier Reef supported more than 69,000 jobs which is more than all the coal jobs across all of Australia. Now that international borders are open again, Queensland has the opportunity to rebuild with purpose, providing employment opportunities that support the UN SDGs and do not come at the expense of our invaluable natural assets, cultural history or environment.