Page 17 - Tropic Magazine Issue 37

TROPIC • TOURISM

alongside University of Technology
Sydney researchers,” he said. “Over the
past two years Passions of Paradise has
planted more than 5,500 pieces of coral
on Hastings Reef. Many of our passengers
have been wanting to go that step further
and actively participate in an activity to
help the reef’s health.”

We want people to leave
a greater version of
themselves because they’ve
spent time with us on 3

Country
“This eco-cultural business has been
Johnny Murison
Jarramali Rock Art created and run by our community, for
Tours our community and will create long
term, ongoing opportunities for us while
The original caretakers of Country – local enriching the lives of everyone who
Aboriginal people – are at the centre of comes to this amazing part of the world.”
the Wet Tropics Management Authority’s Transforming mindsets is something
tourism plan. The document recognises Kuku Yalanji man Johnny Murison also
visitation as a means to protect engages in by taking people on tours to
both the natural and cultural assets see the Quinkan rock art on his Country
of the region by putting original near Cooktown. “Suddenly, they’re seeing
inhabitants first. Among their partners Country through our eyes: how we see
are the Mandingalbay Yidinji people who it and how we experience it and how we
take visitors on guided tours through lived off it and thrived,” he said.
formerly degraded cane land their “Climate change is no newie for us, we’ve 4
Djunbunji Rangers are converting back to been adapting for thousands of years, 1. Credit: Passions of Paradise
pristine wilderness. so this is how we roll. One of the things 2. Credit: Jarramali Rock Art Tours
“In 2010 we declared our Country to I get all the time is guests saying the 3. Credit: Mandingalbay Ancient Indigenous Tours
4. Northern spotted-tail quoll.
be an Indigenous Protected Area,” said experience will stay with them for the Credit: FNQ Nature Tours
Executive Director of Mandingalbay rest of their lives. They then become the
Ancient Indigenous Tours, conduit for others to understand our MORE: tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au
Dale Mundraby. ways and for them to appreciate it.”

Did you know ... In a typical year, ecotourism
in Australia delivers over:
Tropical North Queensland has
the highest concentration of 14,000
certified eco-experiences.
The Port Douglas Daintree region direct jobs
became the first to achieve Eco
Destination Certification back $1.6 billion
in 2019. annual revenue
2
Source: Ecotourism Australia

17 • tropicnow.com.au