by Overlandman » Thu 23 Jul, 2015 9:03 pm
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Significant interest in Overland Track as bookings spike and holiday period already full
Posted about 2 hours ago
View from Marion's Lookout at northern end of Tasmania's Overland Track.
PHOTO: The peak Christmas period for Overland walk is already booked out. (ABC News: Lauren Day )
MAP: Cradle Mountain 7306
Tasmania's iconic Overland Track is set for another bumper season with a spike in bookings and the peak period already booked out.
Over 580 bookings have already been made, with nearly 1,700 walkers planning to make the 65-kilometre trek from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair between October and May.
That is almost double the number of bookings made at the same time last year and the Parks and Wildlife Service said the peak Christmas holiday period was fully booked.
About 8,000 people took on the Overland Track last year.
Parks Minister Matthew Groom said the high interest reflected Tasmania's increased global profile.
"Tasmania has got what the world wants," he said.
"This is one of the reasons the Tasmanian Government has undertaken an [Expression of Interest] process, in relation to our national parks - it is important that our offerings are genuinely world class."
Mr Groom expected the first successful tourism development put forward as part of an Expression of Interest process, to be finalised in coming weeks.
Twenty-five proposals are being considered for Tasmania's national parks and about seven are in the World Heritage Area.
Mr Groom said four of those have progressed through to lease and license negotiations.
"I think we're likely to see the first of those being finalised very shortly in the coming weeks, there are a number of other projects that are going through the more detailed business case assessment phase."
Three Capes Track could be just as popular: Groom
Mr Groom was confident the unfinished Three Capes Track on the Tasman Peninsula would be just as popular as the Overland Track.
In January, it was listed as one of the world's hottest new travel experiences for 2015 by Lonely Planet.
"The second stage of the Three Capes Track is expected to be finalised towards the end of the year, and this has already been identified as one of the leading coastal experiences, genuinely world class," the listing said.
The third stage still requires more funding, which has not been forthcoming from the Federal Government.
Mr Groom said the state was still negotiating.
"We've announced some additional funding as part of our election commitment, we stand by that, and will continue to work with the Commonwealth Government to ensure that project can be fully delivered," he said.
Work on the $25 million track that will showcase Cape Raoul, Cape Pillar and Cape Hauy began in 2010.
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