ECOTOURISM ICON BACK IN BUSINESS

A Gold Coast tourism icon is back in business after Tourism Minister Margaret Keech officially opened the rebuilt Binna Burra Tea House today.

The original Tea House was destroyed by fire just a few years ago but hard work and dedication had seen it restored to its former glory, she said.

“It is fantastic to see this great new facility rising from the ashes so that Binna Burra can continue to delight the many tourists and locals who flock here each year,” Mrs Keech said.

“Binna Burra is a shining example of Queensland’s tourism industry living in harmony with the environment.

“It is arguably one of Australia's longest-established nature-based resorts.

“The team here is dedicated to encouraging visitors to help protect and preserve this natural wilderness for future generations.”

Mrs Keech said eco-tourism developments such as Binna Burra were vital to the future of Queensland’s tourism industry.

“Ecotourism is now one of Queensland’s fastest growing and most important tourism industries,’ Mrs Keech said.

“Last year there were more than 1.4 million international nature-based visitors to Queensland.

“The state hosted more than half of the international nature-based tourists to Australian and over the previous four years international nature based visitors to the State increased by seven per cent each year.”

Mrs Keech said the Beattie Government had made a clear commitment to ensuring tourism worked in harmony with the environment.

“Queensland's natural environment is one of our greatest tourism assets and makes us distinct from many other world tourism destinations,” she said.

“As a Government we have implemented key environmental and ecological tourism strategies under the Queensland Tourism Strategy to help preserve natural assets and tourism developments such as the LamingtonNational Park and Binna Burra.

“We are also committed to addressing climate change and examining what the tourism industry can do to minimise its impact on the state’s second biggest export industry.

“The environment was established as one of the three bottom line outcomes in the Queensland Tourism Strategy – our $48 million, 10-year blueprint for the state’s tourism industry.

“Ecotourism is playing an increasingly important role in ensuring this industry continues to grow.

“I’m confident that while there are eco-tourism focused developments such as Binna Burra educating generations of local and international visitors about the environment, the future is in good hands.”

Media Contact: Jo Gibbons 3225 1005 or 0421 611 989