RESPECT, not revenue, is at the heart of a new tourism initiative being developed for North Stradbroke Island, according to the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC).
The organisation says its goal is to inspire visitors to tread lightly, learn about Country and contribute positively to the island’s cultural and environmental wellbeing – not to charge tourists or impose a levy.
“QYAC has never advocated previously nor is currently looking to have a bed tax,” Chair Cameron Costello said.
“What our forum did do was look at the prospect of developing a pledge or promise for visitors to Quandamooka Country.
“This was not a tax but is of the nature outlined in the presentation provided on the day – you will see it has no reference to taxes.”
Mr Costello said it made no sense for QYAC to pursue a tax because “QYAC has no authority or powers to create such a tax – that would need to come from government”.
He said the pledge – to be named Jinamarumba (good footprint) – would encourage visitors to “promise to respect and protect culture and nature during their visit”.
“We aren’t out to scare tourists away or tax them but to engage meaningfully, educate and enable them to participate in preserving the island’s beautiful cultural, wildlife and environmental heritage for our future generations,” Mr Costello said.
The next step would be to design the pledge, with a working group established to “create and design such a mechanism to capture the ‘good tourist’ and ‘regenerative tourism’ trend spreading across the globe”.
“From QYAC’s perspective, any pledge would be voluntary for visitors, free to sign up to and could provide rewards for implementing it (as opposed to taxing),” Mr Costello said. “It might have the opportunity for visitors to voluntarily donate to cultural and environmental projects and programs on the island – including koala and wildlife preservation, cultural site protection, ranger programs, arts and culture.”
State Member for Oodgeroo Amanda Stoker said she had been told that QYAC representatives proposed a tourism “pledge” with a charge applied to businesses and visitors.
“I was not in attendance and so can only relay what has been reported to me,” Ms Stoker said.
“Needless to say, I do not support a tourist tax, however it may be named, and I have confirmed with the Minister that there is no such policy from the Queensland Government – nor will there be.”
“Tourism businesses on Straddie have it tough enough, and disincentives for people to visit of this kind would be deeply harmful for the local economy, with negative implications for the living standards of indigenous and non-indigenous residents alike.”
Straddie Chamber of Commerce president Colin Battersby said any future measures involving the visitor economy should focus on collaboration and improving infrastructure.
“The Chamber believes that any visitor economy measures should be designed through the prism of people, planet, and profit, and all Straddie businesses should work together on better product and service delivery for visitors instead of making the visitor feel unwelcome, which is what this thought bubble from QYAC risks doing,” he said.
