Second WA Tourism Award to Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk

25/6/99
The world-renowned Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk has cemented its reputation as a regional tourism attraction in the international arena by winning another WA Tourism Award - the second year in a row.
Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said the Department of Conservation and Land Management's (CALM) facility, along with the innovative Building a Better Bibbulmun Track Project, received accolades at the annual Western Australian Tourism Awards held in Perth recently.
The Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk won the prestigious Significant Regional Attractions Category of the awards, while the Building a Better Bibbulmun Track project won the award's Tourism Development Projects category.
To complement CALM's win in the nature-based tourism industry, CALM expedition leader Kevin Coate was named as a finalist in the Facet Golden Guide Award for his work in CALM's popular LANDSCOPE expeditions.
"These awards recognise CALM's ability to successfully integrate tourism and recreation with conservation," Mrs Edwardes said.
"The Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk is one of the State's most popular tourism attractions with more than 200,000 people visiting it each year.
"It is an excellent example of how conservation can be ensured without impeding, but rather fostering nature-based tourism.
"It has provided a unique means of interacting with nature for people while protecting the ecosystem of the sole Tingle Forest in the world.
"Similarly the Building a Better Bibbulmun Track project has provided walkers with access to the most scenic and natural attractions of the South-West.
"The 950km trail from Kalamunda in Perth's hills to Albany on the south coast, has been realigned and revitalised to encourage people to go bush and experience the natural wonders of WA's South-West."
Mrs Edwardes said CALM had been working to create economically self-sufficient attractions that also contribute to the development of other recreation and tourism facilities in other conservation estates.
"The Valley of the Giants facility has generated significant social and economic benefits for the surrounding local communities while importantly redressing the decline in the health of the Tingle Forest," she said.
"More than $2.5 million has been earned in revenue from the facility, which CALM has been able to channel back into maintenance of the facility and other conservation work.
"It has been able to rehabilitate and protect one of the world's rarest forests while ensuring that this great natural wonder is experienced and enjoyed by all who visit it.
"The attraction has also had a major impact on local business, demonstrated by the growth of local tour operators, accommodation houses and businesses in Walpole."
The Minister said The Bibbulmun Track had similarly generated business for small operators throughout the South-West with many local tour operators using the track as part of their itineraries.
"CALM is one of WA's biggest providers of tourism destinations and facilities, including icons like the Bungle Bungle, Monkey Mia and the Pinnacles.
"It has embarked on a visionary plan to provide the people of Western Australia and tourists with unique experiences only available in this State.
"Enhancing visitor experiences of our wealth of natural attractions while ensuring conservation is a very valuable process that as a State we are perfecting and the rest of the world are following."
Media contacts: Ministerial - Nicole Trigwell 9421 7777
CALM Executive Director Dr Syd Shea on 9442 0325
CALM Parks & Tourism Director Jim Sharp on 9442 0300