Geotourism

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (15:37): On Monday 27 June, I had the honour of representing minister Ian Hunter at a function to celebrate the execution of a memorandum of cooperation between the Geological Society of Australia (GSA) and the Geological Society of China (GSC). The memorandum of cooperation with the Geological Society of Australia seeks to promote a better understanding and closer cooperation between these two associations for the promotion and advancement of geotourism. I remember, when I first came into this place, being on the Environment, Resources and Development Committee and the project we did looking at ecotourism. I have to say that, since that time, I had not given it a lot of thought but understood how important these developments are.

I am told that China has at least 10 major geoparks, and five academic institutions are interested in collaborating with the parks and the institutions of Australian counterparts. I understand the memorandum was signed at the biennial 2016 Australian Earth Sciences Convention. I am also advised that the keynote address on geotourism was given by Professor Patrick McKeever, representing UNESCO; Dr Graham Carr, President of the Geological Society of Australia; and Professor Anze Chen, who is a distinguished member of the Geological Society of China. At the function I attended, I managed to meet these three gentlemen. Dr Carr is reported as saying:

Geotourism is an emerging global phenomenon which fosters tourism based upon landscapes and geology. China is a major global player in geotourism [and it has] over 320 provincial areas set aside for this purpose in China, among which 200 have [been assigned] national status...With 33 of these areas (known as geoparks) having acquired global status, China manages by far to have the largest number of geoparks in the world.

With the increased number of Chinese tourists visiting Australia, it is hoped that tourists will continue to visit outside capital cities and coastal areas. One of the foci of ecotourism is to develop job opportunities in nature-based tourism industries and in natural resources management. Of course, being on the Natural Resources Committee links up with the interest that we will have on that committee.

According to the department (DEWNR), ecotourism is described as an emerging new tourism market—I am not sure how new it is: we did a project in 1998, so I am not sure what 'new' means—focusing on the geology and landscape of an area as the basis for providing visitor engagement, learning and enjoyment. Ecotourism, I am told, focuses on cultural heritage and biodiversity, but it includes geodiversity and showing links between these strands of our natural heritage and how our earth heritage (our geological heritage) provides for a truly inclusive, holistic, nature-based tourism experience. That was the advice I got from the department. I think most people would get the gist of what all that is about, but I thought it was a very wordy explanation. Examples, or ones I think we can seize upon, are the Flinders Ranges, Kangaroo Island and Australia's centre.

There is also a whole agenda with regard to UNESCO, and I had the opportunity to speak with Professor McKeever on that issue. He talks about the multiplying effects of both ecotourism and geotourism, and he is a big advocate for these geoparks. He emphasises the need for local people to take ownership of the whole process and talks about the development of employment and business opportunities and the multiplying effect they may have in a particular area. This is also, I understand, a highly political area, as the federal and state governments do not necessarily buy into geoparks but certainly support ecotourism and geotourism.

Time expired.