The Cape York Peninsula & Torres Strait Tourism Development Action Plan 2008 – 2011 Foreword The Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Strait are recognised as two of the most spectacular and culturally important tourism regions in Queensland and an important point of difference for the Queensland tourism industry. To ensure this tourism potential is developed and promoted, the Queensland Government has invested in the development of a Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait Tourism Development Action Plan. Under the plan, the State Government will work with industry and local communities to identify and develop tourism opportunities that in turn will provide employment, training and career path opportunities. A priority will be generating opportunities for locally-owned and managed businesses as well as partnerships with existing tourism operators, while at the same time protecting local culture, traditions and the environment. A major focus of the plan is to increase the involvement of the local Indigenous people in all facets of tourism in Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Strait. The Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait Tourism Action Plan is an important initiative of the State Government’s $48 million, 10-year Queensland Tourism Strategy which focuses on the importance of Queensland’s unique natural and cultural assets. Through the development of this new action plan, we are ensuring Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait tourism has a significant role and receives maximum benefit from the State’s second largest export market, tourism. The Hon Desley Boyle MP Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Part A An Overview .......................................................................................................... 5 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 5 1.1 Purpose .................................................................................................................. 5 1.2 Background ............................................................................................................ 7 1.3 Complementary Queensland Government and Private Initiatives .......................... 7 1.4 The Consultation Process ....................................................................................... 8 1.4.1 Cape York ................................................................................................. 8 1.4.2 Torres Strait ............................................................................................... 8 2 VISION ............................................................................................................................ 9 2.1 Vision ...................................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Tourism Development Principles ............................................................................ 9 2.3 Goals ....................................................................................................................... 9 2..1 Economic goals: ........................................................................................ 9 2..2 Social goals: .............................................................................................. 9 2.. Cultural goals: ........................................................................................... 9 2..4 Environmental goals:.................................................................................. 9 3 TARGET MARKETS ..................................................................................................... 10 3.1 Cape York ............................................................................................................. 10 3.2 Torres Strait ........................................................................................................... 10 Contents 4 KEY STRATEGIC PRIORITIES .................................................................................... 11 5 STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE VISION .................................................................... 12 6 PRIORITY ACTIONS .................................................................................................... 13 7 IMPLEMENTATION, FUNDING & REVIEW ................................................................. 15 7.1 Implementation ..................................................................................................... 15 7.2. Funding ................................................................................................................. 15 7.3 Review .................................................................................................................. 15 Part B Cape York Peninsula Tourism Development Action Plan ........................... 16 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 17 2 CAPE YORK ACTION PLAN ........................................................................................ 17 Part C Torres Strait Tourism Development Action Plan ........................................... 29 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 29 2 TORRES STRAIT ACTION PLAN ................................................................................ 30 Appendices ...................................................................................................................... 39 Appendix 1 Glossary of Terms ......................................................................................... 39 Appendix 2 Existing and Potential Markets Cape York ................................................... 39 Appendix 3 Existing and Potential Markets Torres Strait ................................................ 42 Appendix 4 Cape York – Attributes, Attractions and Challenges .................................... 43 Appendix 5 Cape York Peninsula Land Use Strategy ..................................................... 46 Appendix 6 Torres Strait – Attributes, Attractions and Challenges ................................. 47 Appendix 7 Funding ........................................................................................................ 48 The recommended actions and associated responsible agencies presented in this document do not imply that funding will be made available by the Queensland Government or any other agency or organisation for implementation. Implementation of any aspects of this Plan by the Queensland Government will need to be considered within the context of its overall funding priorities. The following organisations made a significant contribution to the development of this Action Plan Aurukun Shire Council Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation Mabuiag Council Bamaga Island Council Mapoon Shire Council Badu Council Masig Council Boigu Council Mer Council Cape York Peninsula Development Association Muralug Council Cook Shire Council Napranum Shire Council Department of Communities Cairns New Mapoon Shire Council Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry, Ngurupai Council Cairns Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Poruma Council – Indigenous Business Development Unit Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Dauan Council Regional Organisation of Councils of Cape York Douglas Shire Council St Pauls Council Erub Council Saibai Council Far North Queensland Area Consultative Committee Seisia Council Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Torres Shire Council Great Tropical Drive Torres Strait Regional Authority Hammond Council Tourism Tropical North Queensland Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council Ugar Council Iama Council Umagico Aboriginal Shire Council Indigenous Coordination Centre Cairns Warraber Council Injinoo Shire Council Weipa Town Council Kowanyama Shire Council Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council Kubin Council We also acknowledge the contribution made to the preparation of the Action Plan by various Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait tourism operators. * For the purposes of this document, from here on in, Cape York Peninsula will be referred to as Cape York. 4 The Cape York Peninsula & Torres Strait Tourism Development Action Plan – 2008–2011 PART A An overview 1 Introduction 1.1 Purpose It is recognised that not all communities will want to be involved in tourism or necessarily have a tourism future. This The purpose of the Action Plan is to: Action Plan has been developed so as to support informed • Provide a strategic vision for the future of tourism in decision making by communities and individuals in those Cape York and the Torres Strait that incorporates the communities about their involvement in the tourism industry. aspirations of Cape and Island communities and the For those communities where there is a future for tourism, commercial realities of the industry sustainable tourism development will contribute to the: • Establish key tourism priorities in Cape York and the • Creation of employment, training, and career path Torres Strait such as infrastructure development, opportunities, which in turn will assist in retaining young training/capacity building for communities and tourism people in communities operators, product development opportunities, visitor A PART Introduction • Creation of opportunities for the further development and management demands, and market development