Austrade’s recently released THRIVE 2030 Visitor Economy Strategy is designed to assist the tourism industry and governments in planning for sustainable, long-term growth of the visitor economy over the next decade. The vision is the delivery of high quality geotourism experiences for local and overseas visitors and support for sustainable ecotourism businesses that are globally competitive and provide jobs and infrastructure that will benefit regional Australian communities. A key action of this strategy is to expand high-quality experiences around unique Australian locations and themes incorporating sustainable geotourism with economic opportunities for Traditional Owners. The goals of THRIVE complement the AGC’s National Geotourism Strategy (NGS) particularly in combining natural and cultural heritage-based geotourism. The NGS will support the orderly development of major geotourism projects such as GeoRegions, in line with overseas trends and domestic regional development, and the inclusion of a geotourism case study on the Glen Innes Highlands in NSW as a designated ‘GeoRegion’ was a major step forward for geotourism concepts. The Glen Innes Highlands are rich in natural and cultural heritage, boasting unique landscapes, waterways, vegetation, wildlife, and cultural heritage that includes extensive historical mining sites. The proposed Glen Innes GeoRegion aims to be a model geotourism destination in line with the THRIVE 2030 Strategy, with local First Nations peoples, state government, local councils, and other interest groups working together to develop exciting geotrails. As key NGS pilot projects, the Glen Innes Highlands joins two other Australian GeoRegions in establishing new pathways for tourism regional development in Australia.

1. 'The THRIVE 2030 visitor economy strategy
and Geotourism’
SEGRA 2022, 1st September 2022
Angus M Robinson FAusIMM (CP), Coordinator
National Geotourism Strategy, Australian Geoscience Council

2. Today’s
Agenda
 Why the AGC interest?
 Ecotourism and geotourism
 The National Geotourism Strategy
 What is a GeoRegion?
 Socio-economic benefits of
GeoRegions and geotourism
 THRIVE 2030 Visitor Economy
Strategy
 Alignment of THRIVE with the
National Geotourism Strategy
 Geotrails and other major projects
 Take-Aways

3. Ecotourism
&
Geotourism
Concepts
 Ecotourism is practised
predominantly in protected
areas such as national parks
whereas geotourism is
undertaken also in all areas
where primary industry
activities are being carried
out.
 Geotourism is increasingly
seen globally as an instrument
of regional economic
development.

4. Geotourism
‘Place
based &
Holistic’
Nature
Tourism
 comprises the following features of both natural
and cultural heritage:
 Abiotic – non-living aspects such as the sky,
climate & geology, landscape and landforms:
celebrating GEODIVERSITY.
 Biotic – the living parts e.g., flora (plants) and
fauna (animals): celebrating BIODIVERSITY.
 Cultural – past & present, both Aboriginal and post
European settlement (incl. mining), non-living and
built: celebrating HUMAN DIVERSITY.
 Holistic in scope, geotourism is booming globally
and a key driver for tourism, particularly in
Europe and Asia.

5. Fundamentals of
Geotourism
Geotourism is
not 'geological
tourism’
Geotourism is
‘place based’
and focuses on
‘Country’

6. Geotourism incorporating
all types of ‘nature-based’ tourism
Sightseeing,
‘Scenic Areas'
Wildlife
tourism
Agritourism
Aboriginal
Tourism
Astro-
tourism
Cultural
Tourism
ECOTOURISM
Geotourism
i.e. ‘experiential
tourism’

7. Why a
National
Geotourism
Strategy?
 Unique opportunity for engaging the broader
community with geoscience.
 With COVID-19, domestic tourism is now
looking for innovative product development.
 Major opportunity for rural and regional
development, focusing on both natural and
cultural heritage, both mining and Aboriginal.
 Emerging grass-roots community support
evident – however this requires
implementation to be effective.
 Need a national strategy to complement what
the Australian Government delivered for
ecotourism in 1994.

8. Defining a
GeoRegion - the
first step
in evaluating its
potential
development for
geotourism
 An area defined by a proponent
(which might include for example a
LGA or a RDA) having completed an
approved tourism Destination
Management Plan (DMP).
 And the proponent now wishes to
seek agreement from the
State/Territory Geological Survey
and other agencies to designate a
defined area of particular natural
and cultural heritage which
highlights outstanding geoheritage
features.

9. Societal
Benefits of
Developing a
GeoRegion
for
Geotourism
 By celebrating the geological heritage
of an identified GeoRegion, and in
connection with all other aspects of the
area’s natural and cultural heritage
(and most significantly, Aboriginal
heritage), geotourism enhances
awareness and understanding of key
issues facing society.
 Geotourism gives local people a sense
of pride and strengthens their
identification with a GeoRegion.

10. Cultural
Heritage
Benefits of
Geotourism
 Holistic Aboriginal Culture elements linked
to landscape and astral interpretation
(‘sky country’).
 For Australia, an enhanced understanding
of cultural elements of post European
settlement.
 Extensive mining heritage.
 Other primary industry and historic
cultural elements.

11. Over-riding
Socio-
economic
Benefits of
Geotourism
for
GeoRegions
 Measurable economic benefits through
enhancement of traditional nature-based tourism
- additional visitors, direct and regional
economic output, household income and wages,
and local (including Aboriginal) employment.
 Through establishment of a higher level of
centralised coordination in areas of product
development, travel and hospitality services,
tourism promotion/branding.
 Through its defined mission, community
engagement is maximised and measured.

12. Employment
Benefits of
Geotourism
for
GeoRegions
 New domestic employment and consulting
opportunities for natural/cultural heritage
professionals – design of interpretation
signage/boards, design of geotrails etc.
 Management roles in potential mining
parks and geoparks, regional development
and LGAs.
 Flow-on employment in tour operations
and townships resulting from increased
tourism visitation.

13. Employment
Benefits of
Geotourism
for
GeoRegions
 New domestic employment and consulting
opportunities for natural/cultural heritage
professionals – design of interpretation
signage/boards, design of geotrails etc.
 Management roles in potential mining
parks and geoparks, regional development
and LGAs.
 Flow-on employment in tour operations
and townships resulting from increased
tourism visitation.

14. Economic
Impact of
COVID-19
for
Australian
Tourism
 COVID-19 was an unprecedented shock to
the visitor economy.
 International visitation dropped 98%.
 GDP contribution was down almost 50%.
 Jobs losses of 25 % (over 190,000 jobs)
were sustained.
 Fewer visitors meant much lower business
revenue.
 Total expenditure lost to the visitor
economy from March 2020 to June 2021 of
$102 billion.

15. THRIVE 2030
Visitor
Economy
Strategy –
Three Phases
1.Recovery Phase 2022–2024
 driving domestic visitation
 driving targeted international visitation
 addressing priority supply-side issues
2.Consolidation Phase 2025–2027
 pursuing a targeted, diverse portfolio of markets
 investing in new products and destinations
 improving business practices
 continuing to build workforce capability
3.Acceleration Phase 2028–2030
 Increase service quality
 improvements in business processes and technology

16. THRIVE 2030
Visitor
Economy
Strategy –
Key Priorities
1.Comprehensive COLLABORATION.
2. Improve data and insights.
3. Grow a secure and resilient workforce.
4. Embrace leading edge business practices.
5.Enhance visitor infrastructure; through
MODERNISATION.
6. Build markets & attract visitors.
7. Grow unique and high-quality products
including Aboriginal and TSI experiences;
through DIVERSIFICATION.

17. THRIVE 2030
Visitor Economy
Strategy and
Geotourism
Actions 7.5 and
7.7
 7.5: ‘Grow and develop high-quality
products and experiences around
unique Australian locations and
themes, including approaches which
integrate sustainable nature tourism
with economic opportunities for
Traditional Owners, and capitalising
on emerging tourism trends such as
geotourism.’
 7.7: ‘Enhance the visitor experience
through use and availability of
technology.’

18. National
Geotourism
Strategic
Goals
1. Consideration of new digital technologies.
2. To define an approval pathway for major
geotourism projects.
3. To establish a framework for creating high
quality, sustainable geotrails.
4. To establish a national listing for
geoheritage sites suitable for geotourism.
5. To develop geotourism in regional mining
and Aboriginal communities.
6. To strengthen Australia's international
geoscience standing.
7. To develop and enhance geoscience
interpretation and communication skills.

19. National
Geotourism
Strategic
Goals
Aligning with
THRIVE 2030 &
State–based
strategies
 Consideration of new digital technologies e.g., 3D
visualisation, AR & VR etc (‘cutting edge’ work).
Goal 1 and Action 7.7
 To define an approval pathway for major
geotourism projects. Goal 2 and Action 7.5
 To establish a framework for creating high quality,
sustainable geotrails. Goal 3 and Action 7.5
 To develop geotourism in regional mining and
Aboriginal communities Goal 5 and Action 7.5

20. Best
Practice
Geotrails
 Should be constructed around routes
currently used by tourists; geotrails should
form logical journeys linking
accommodation destinations.
 Should meld the geological heritage
features of a region with a cohesive
STORY.
 Should incorporate and package in the
biodiversity and cultural components
(including mining heritage) of the
GeoRegion through which the geotrail
traverses.

21. National
Geotourism
Strategy
Goal 2
 Defining an approval pathway for major
geotourism projects.
 Three Pilot GeoRegion Projects:
 Ku-ring-gai, Sydney, NSW.
 Murchison, Mid West, WA.
 Glen Innes, New England Highlands, NSW.

22. Take-Aways
 Geotourism is increasingly being recognised
worldwide as a major deliverer of nature-
based tourism.
 Tourism destination management planning
can deliver superior experiences with a
geotourism focused approach.
 The THRIVE 2030 strategy provides the
means of gaining tourism industry support
for the National Geotourism Strategy in
Australia.

23. Contact Details
Angus M Robinson FAusIMM (CP)
angus@leisuresolutions.com.au
Tel: 0418 488 340
https://www.slideshare.net/leisuresolutions
http://www.leisuresolutions.com.au/index.php/geotourism-industry-groups/
Information about Australian Geotourism and Geopark Development Activities
Information about the National Geotourism Strategy
https://www.agc.org.au/geoscience-in-australia/geotourism/