Fees waived and new sustainable standards for national and marine park operators in Western Australia

New industry standards for Western Australian national and marine park operators were announced by Tourism Council WA with support from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) at the Sustainable Tourism Forum held yesterday.

The standards would see park tourism operators achieve enhanced Sustainable Tourism Accreditation, publish a thorough assessment of their accessibility, and commit to reducing emissions.

The Sustainable Tourism Forum hosted by Tourism Council WA, also saw Western Australian Environment Minister Reece Whitby announce DBCA would waive the annual $406 T-Class licence charge, to reduce cost burden on operators and recognise their high standards of sustainable tourism in national parks.

Minister Whitby said tour operators made a valuable contribution to Western Australia’s economy, commenting “we want WA to be a sustainable and accessible destination while supporting our tourism businesses to be the best they can be.”

T-Class licences apply to most commercial operations in National Parks including guided walks, vehicle tours, boat tours and charters. Licence conditions ensure environmental, cultural and visitor management objectives are met.   

Advising that the state's tourism industry wanted to achieve the highest standards in sustainable tourism, especially in its national parks, Tourism Council WA Chief Executive, Evan Hall added "the next generation of visitors to WA are looking for low emission, accessible, and sustainable tourism experiences in our unique natural environment.

“A recent survey commissioned by Tourism Council WA found 81% of tourism businesses reported using measures to assess, mitigate, develop, or promote their sustainability.”

Western Australian Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti said creating a sustainable tourism industry was a key component of the Western Australian Visitor Economy Strategy 2024 (WAVES), going on to state "by slashing costs for our operators, we’re helping to continue drive visitation into our beautiful national parks and conservation reserves, which we know have seen huge visitation post-COVID."