CANBERRA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government on Wednesday unveiled a plan to revitalize the iconic Kakadu National Park.
The 10-year plan worth 276 million Australian dollars (194.4 million U.S. dollars) is intended to boost tourism in the Northern Territory (NT) in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the plan, which was developed in collaboration with local indigenous peoples, would support indigenous employment and provide better experiences for visitors to the iconic park.
It includes proposals for a world heritage visitor center, adventure tourism opportunities, river cruises, mountain biking trails, an expanded major events calendar, cultural center facilities, increased accommodation and improved mobile coverage in the park.
"This is a landmark strategy to reinvigorate one of Australia's national treasures and we welcome public comment," Ley said in a media release.
"This year's budget also provides an additional 60 million AUD (42.2 million U.S. dollars) for park improvements to create jobs and maximise domestic tourism as we invest in Australia's COVID recovery." she said.
Covering almost 20,000 square kilometers, Kakadu is the largest national park in Australia.
It has been listed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for its natural and cultural values.
Sam McMahon, a Senator for the NT, said the master plan underlined the importance of Kakadu to Australia.
"Kakadu is an amazing place and it plays a key role in the local and national economy," she said. Enditem
