What is ecotourism?
Mamu Tropical Skywalk, Wooroonoon National Park. ©Tourism & Events Queensland
Ecotourism encompasses nature-based activities that increase visitor appreciation and understanding of natural and cultural values. They are experiences that are managed in a way that promotes conservation, minimises visitor impacts and provides for beneficial socio-economic involvement of local communities.
Ecotourism in protected areas is unique, especially compared to ecotourism and nature-based tourism on other tenures, as at its core it requires a commitment to preserving and promoting the specific natural and cultural values of the protected area it operates on. Any ecotourism facility within protected areas should focus on presenting and appreciating an area’s natural and cultural values and not involve modification of the natural environment for activities inconsistent with this purpose.
Why is ecotourism important?
Tourism is a $42 billion industry for Queensland, generating $115 million a day in visitor expenditure across the state, and directly employing 156,000 Queenslanders (Destination 2045, 2025).
Experiencing nature is a primary motivator for both domestic and international visitors in Australia. Queensland has a natural competitive advantage in providing visitors with high-quality ecotourism experiences because of our world-class national parks and marine parks, five World Heritage areas, and a huge diversity of unique and unrivalled landscapes and iconic wildlife.
Destination 2045 – Delivering Queensland’s Tourism Future
Destination 2045 (PDF, 5,712KB is a bold plan to deliver Queensland’s tourism future and position us as a global tourism leader, showcasing our environment, lifestyle, cultures and regions.
Destination 2045 sets out a pathway for Queensland to become a global tourism and events leader, showcasing the best assets of our environment, lifestyle, and regions.
45 by 45: Getting Queensland Ecotourism Moving
The 45 by 45: Getting Queensland Ecotourism Moving (PDF, 787KB) policy is a strategic framework aimed at positioning Queensland as a leading global ecotourism destination by 2045. The "45 by 45" ecotourism plan focuses on three key ecotourism priorities: protected areas, areas outside protected zones, and partnership projects.
The plan aims to deliver 45 sustainable, world-class ecotourism experiences by 2045, enhancing regional tourism, conservation, and jobs through low-impact facilities, cultural partnerships, and nature-based connections.
Ecotourism Plan for Queensland’s Protected Areas 2025-2030
The Ecotourism Plan for Queensland’s Protected Areas 2025-2030 (PDF, 32.7MB) (the Plan) provides the framework for planning and delivering immersive ecotourism experiences in Queensland’s spectacular national and marine parks and other protected areas. The Plan outlines the government’s commitment to foster innovative ecotourism experiences that allow visitors to actively provide a positive contribution back to Queensland’s protected areas and local communities while building a sustainable, and resilient ecotourism sector. It communicates a strong focus on working with our First Nations partners to support their priorities for Country and community and to build their capacity in offering genuine cultural experiences.
What is happening to support ecotourism?
The Queensland Government is committed to progressing new best-practice iconic ecotourism experiences to attract further growth in the domestic and international visitor market.
Ecotourism opportunities may include:
- commercial tourism operators that access Queensland’s protected area estate through Commercial Activity Permits and Commercial Activity Agreements
- the design, construction, ongoing operation and maintenance of low-impact eco-accommodation and other appropriate infrastructure within and adjacent to the protected area estate
- immersive experiences that support citizen science and voluntourism programs.
A strong partnership between industry and the Queensland Government will be fundamental to making Queensland the number one ecotourism destination in Australia, delivering world-class ecotourism attractions and experiences in Queensland’s national parks.