Delivery of 45 new ecotourism experiences among Queensland’s Destination 2045 priorities

Destination 2045, Queensland's visionary 20-year tourism plan aimed at enhancing Queensland's global appeal and leveraging opportunities for the lead up and legacy of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, is aiming to deliver 45 new ecotourism experiences.

Among the 45 new ecotourism experiences are a new dark sky tourism experiences, light footprint accommodation and agritourism.

The first 45X45 projects will be: the Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island, the Wangetti Trail, north of Cairns, the Whitsunday Skyway in Airlie Beach, the Ngaro Trail on Whitsunday Island, and upgrades of day use areas in Lake Eacham and Springbrook National Park.

Alongside the planned ecotourism experiences, Destination 2045 has an additional five strategic priorities designed to supercharge Queensland’s tourism future, including:

• Making Queensland Australia's event capital – attracting world-class events for locals and visitors. 

• Connecting Queensland – a new fund to attract direct flights to new markets, including India, and boosting connections to regional Queensland. 

• More experiences – partnering with industry and targeted investment, including rejuvenating the Great Barrier Reef islands. 

• Home of the holiday – bringing in more visitors through world-class marketing.

• A big boost for tourism operators – streamlining regulation to empower Queensland tourism businesses to modernise and thrive.

Destination 2045 aims to more than double the value of visitor expenditure to Queensland’s economy to $84 billion in two decades, while employing 25% more Queenslanders directly.

To bring more visitors to the State and make it easier for them to travel, the Queensland Government will launch a new Connecting Queensland aviation fund, and target more international and domestic tourists.

A new dedicated events fund will support Queensland’s vision to be Australia’s home of events, across sports, concerts and culture, including in the regions.

The plan builds on tourism’s critical role in Queensland’s economy, which currently supports more than 270,000 jobs and generates $115 million a day in visitor expenditure. About nine out of 10 tourism operations are small businesses.

The plan was shaped by more than 1,500 stakeholders, including major tourism operators, grassroots businesses, local governments, community members and Traditional Owners.

Premier David Crisafulli said Destination noted “Destination 2045 is our 20-year plan to make Queensland the leading holiday destination in the nation.

“We are the home of the holiday and Destination 2045 will build on our existing strengths to deliver the best events, ecotourism and experiences.

“Queensland will become Australia’s events and ecotourism capital, delivering more ways for locals and visitors to experience and travel around our great State.”