Last Update: Tuesday, October 4, 2005. 12:00pm (AEST)
Tourism group sees benefits in national park ventures

The Federal Government believes weeds and feral animals could be controlled by establishing tourism businesses inside national parks.

The general manager of Tourism Whitsundays, Matthew Williams, says similar schemes work well in other countries.

North-western shires recently entered an agreement with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife to attract tourism ventures to the White Peaks and Porcupine Gorge national parks.

Mr Williams says the tourism industry can preserve the heritage of national parks.

"One of the things that's happening certainly around the world are what's called public-private sector partnerships between the private sector and various national parks and wildlife-style agencies," he said.

"We think this proposal certainly has a lot of merit. The guys out in the field often struggle for resources and one of the things the tourism industry can bring to this kind of partnership is actually helping and assisting managing the resource."