Tourism brings big money into the Port Douglas-Daintree region every year. In fact, around 80% of the area's economic activity is derived from tourism.
According to the Douglas Shire Economic Development Strategy 2021 - 2024, the region sees an average of 707,000 visitors every year, equating to around $611 million in tourism dollars.
Tourism in the region also sustains 2,956 jobs, making it vitally important to the local economy.
The biggest draw cards? Out of the top 6, 5 are nature-based, with the Daintree Rainforest - a global World Heritage treasure and tourism icon - sitting high on the list.
The iconic southern cassowary (Martin Willis Photographs)
And when visitors arrive, they come expecting to find a pristine Wet Tropics environment.
Luckily, the Daintree has been at the forefront of ecotourism for years, with many businesses and providers adopting environmentally-friendly and responsible tourism practices.
This was recognised internationally in 2019, when the Port Douglas-Daintree region became the world’s first eco-tourism certified destination.
The Daintree Discovery Centre. Image: Tourism and Events Queensland.
What is ecotourism?
Sustainable tourism, or ecotourism, encompasses all sustainable nature-based travel and activities that increase appreciation of nature and cultural values.
In Queensland the state government has recognised the importance of low-impact, sustainable ecotourism, offering opportunities for private investors as the demand for nature-based tourism continues to grow.
The importance of conservation
As demand increases for nature-based tourism experiences, conservation of these environments has become more important than ever in supporting a thriving visitor economy in the Daintree and FNQ, as well as supporting the region’s commitment to sustainable practices and high-quality, immersive regenerative tourism experiences.
Demand for immersive, sustainable experiences is on the rise. Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
“The Daintree is one place where investment should prioritise conservation for both environmental and economic reasons,” Gondwana Rainforest Trust CEO Richard Christian said.
“Through low-impact, high yield ecotourism and regenerative tourism experiences that seek to leave destinations in a better state than they were found, we believe nature and tourism can not only co-exist, but they can work hand-in-hand to deliver positive social, environmental, and economic outcomes.”
“Through the buyback of freehold, unoccupied rainforest blocks and the restoration of degraded rainforest habitats in Far North Queensland, Gondwana Rainforest Trust is actively working to preserve the environmental values of the Daintree.”
Richard Christian, Gondwana Rainforest Trust's CEO.
How ecotourism contributes to conservation
Nature-based tourism also plays an important role in promoting and supporting conservation. Because without seeing and knowing just how incredible our rainforest ecosystems are, how can we be inspired to protect them?
Just like the Daintree, many destinations around the world are home to unique and endangered species, and they have used these as drawcards to create significant positive change.
Kruger National Park in South Africa, for example, has used a portion of sustainable ecotourism profits to tackle poaching. Since 2014, rhino poaching incidents in the park have been reduced by 90 per cent.
Closer to home, New Zealand has made itself a leader in sustainable tourism, and in doing so they have helped safeguard several endemic bird species which are threatened by habitat loss and invasive species.By conserving and protecting lowland rainforests in the Daintree, we’re paving the way for a better future for wildlife, ecosystems, and the region’s tourism providers.
The cyclical nature of ecotourism means better conservation too.
“We still get support from people who visited the Daintree in the 80s and 90s and fell in love with it,” Mr Christian said.
“By being immersed in nature through ecotourism, people can take that experience home and start caring for nature more.”