Tourism Tools Handbook
Welcome to Tourism Tools - the department tour operator handbook
Welcome to EPA's online tour operator handbook, which covers more than 11 million hectares of public land across Queensland managed by the department. From reef to desert and everything in between, Queensland's diverse natural and cultural beauty and recreational opportunities makes it an ideal location for running nature-based commercial tour operations.
Getting starting
For new operators, exploring the handbook will give you an idea of the opportunities available for starting your business and help you understand your rights and responsibilities as tour operators conducting business in department managed areas.
For easy of use, the handbook is divided into a number of key areas from permit arrangements to handy resources to improve your tourism business.
- Learn about land based Commercial activities, and General permit matters relevant to permits. Fact sheets are also available in pdf format for easy printing.
- Find out what Commercial agreements are and if these are suitable for your proposed activity.
- If your business relates to Marine Parks or you'd like to know about Marine park permits these pages are a good place to start.
- Policies, guidelines and information sheets cover all you need to know about decisions relating to commercial activities. You will need to download the relevant Applications and forms to apply for your permit.
- Understand management tools used by the department under Parks and forest management, Cultural heritage or Tourism in Protected Areas Initiative (TIPA).
- If you want to expand your knowledge and business operations, check out the A - Z guide to responsible park practices, Educational and interpretive resources and Park and wildlife finder.
- For existing operators discover the Accreditation and training opportunities available or just find out What's new?
- If you have any questions you can Contact us, of try other Useful contacts for more information. For Reporting an incident you can download the form so we can follow up on the matter.
Using Tourism Tools
To navigate around the handbook you can use the far left-hand side headings from Tourism Tools Handbook down to Fact sheets or click on the links contained within the text.
Some links will take you to pages with the handbook while other links will direct you to pages within the department website or an external website. If you click on a link try the back button on your top navigation bar to return to the previous page. You may need to use the top right-hand close window icon (X) in the corner of pdf pages to close the document before using the back button on your top navigation bar.
You can also try www.epa.qld.gov.au/tourismtools for a quick link into the handbook.
Scope of Tourism Tools
This handbook covers land managed by the department who administer a number of different state legislations. The term The department -managed areas is used throughout this handbook and covers land declared under the following legislation:
- Recreation areas under the Recreation Areas Management Act 2006
- State forests, forest reserves and other lands managed under the Forestry Act 1959
- Protected areas (State land) under the Nature Conservation Act 1992
- Marine parks under the Marine Parks Act 2004
- Brisbane Forest Park, managed under the Brisbane Forest Park Act 1977.
Every care has been taken to ensure information contained in this handbook is correct; however, it is strongly recommended that before proceeding with any new business ventures that you first discuss your options with a legal advisor and a departmental officer.
Copyright
Copyright protects this publication. Except for the purposes permitted by the Copyright Act, reproduction by whatever means is prohibited without the prior written permission of the Environmental Protection Agency. Enquiries should be addressed to The Manager, Tourism and Visitor Management Unit, Environmental Protection Agency, PO Box 15155, CITY EAST QLD 4002.
Last updated: 24 October 2008