News
Three Capes Track Needed for Tourism and Jobs
Posted on Monday, 24 May 2010 | Permalink
The Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania says the Three Capes Track will unequivocally increase visitor numbers and benefit both the Tasman Peninsula as well as the broader Tasmanian economy.
TICT Chief Executive Daniel Hanna said today that the tourism industry considered this project to be the highest priority to better place Tasmania to compete with other nature based destinations like New Zealand.
“The research recently conducted on our behalf by KPMG highlighted that the Three Capes Track would deliver between $90 million to $190million in additional visitor expenditure each year to Tasmania; with a substantial proportion of this on the Tasman Peninsula.
“The project will also create lasting jobs, up to 1560 statewide and up to 320 on the Tasman Peninsula. Combined with the possibility of the World Heritage listing of the Port Arthur Historic Site, this could be exciting times for the Tasman Peninsula.
“The KPMG study estimated that by 2017 the Track will attract between 56,040 and 86,690 additional day visitors a year to the Tasman Peninsula above any normal growth in the market. It is the additional day visitors attracted to the region by the Three Capes Track that will provide the largest proportion of the economic benefits.
“Extra day visitors will stay overnight on the Tasman peninsula and spend money in a range of businesses. This means that the benefits will flow to retailers, suppliers, cafes, restaurants, accommodation, and tour operators. Quite literally every butcher, baker and candlestick maker on the Tasman Peninsula is poised to benefit from the Three Capes Track.
Mr Hanna said that Tasmania needed to develop new products to meet changing visitor demands, remain competitive and to attract return visitors.
“We need to provide new experiences that work in with the time that visitors have available and the type of experience they are seeking. It is important to provide a full range of options to all kinds of different visitors and locals alike.
Mr Hanna said there was still strong interest in the highly regarded Overland Track, but that this track was close to capacity and visitors were looking for something new.
“One of the reasons for the proposal for a new iconic track is to take some of the pressure off our more popular walks.
“The Three Capes track will be an entirely different bushwalking experience to anything else currently available in Tasmania, with spectacular coastal views, and will allow Tasmania to compete for market share with our major competitor New Zealand.
The Federal Government has allocated $12.5 million and the State Government $12.8 million to develop the track and the private sector will also contribute $8 million to the $33.5 million development.
Mr Hanna said the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service had a well deserved reputation for the management of Tasmania’s iconic walking tracks like the Overland Track; balancing the desire of people to experience the wilderness with the need to protect the pristine environment.
“A lot of research has gone into the development of this concept including detailed studies and track surveys to provide information about route alignment, track construction methods, flora and fauna values, threatened species, erosion and weed and phytophthora management so the TICT is confident that it will strengthen Tasmania’s reputation for iconic bushwalks,” Mr Hanna said.
