Australia's Tasmanian tourism plans get government pre-approval

Australia's Tasmanian government has pre-approved a group of national park-related tourism proposals that it hopes will result in more domestic and international visitors to the region.

National parks minister Matthew Groom agreed on Friday to 13 plans that will go under further review in coming weeks.

The plans will need to meet strict economic and environmental standards, but Groom hopes the approval will see Tasmania become the "eco-tourism capital of the world".

Groom said that any approved proposals will be met with further assessment processes that will be "sensitive and appropriate".

A tree-climbing course in Tasmania's Mount Field National Park, a surfing centre at South Arm, and 40-bed boat that cruises the Gordon River are among the projects to have been given the green light.

Environmental groups have expressed concerns about opening up national parks to visitors but Nicolas Dansin, owner of Trees Adventure, one of the approved projects, said that being environmentally aware is what got his proposal the go-ahead. "We build everything by hand, everything is cut in the warehouse so there's no machinery, and the impact on the trees is very limited," he said.

The Tasmanian government hopes the move will result in a rise in tourist numbers to Tasmania and close the gap between the more popular states of New South Wales and Queensland.

Groom said that he will make a final decision by March 13. Endi