Australians are being as the federal government announced $61.7 million in funding for a range of environmental tourism projects ahead of next week's federal budget.
The money will be used to upgrade hiking huts in the Tasmanian wilderness, fix walking tracks in northern New South Wales, build water crossings in Victoria and restore heritage sites in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Almost two dozen national parks and world heritage sites will share a slice of $33.5 million in additional funding.
The Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) welcomed the .
"We know that nature-based tourism is a major drawcard for many Australians as interstate borders ideally continue to reopen in the lead-up to Christmas," TTF chief executive Margy Osmond said on Thursday.
"These investments are critical right now to prepare for the return of domestic tourists hungry for a slice of Aussie nature and landscapes."
Another $20 million will be spent restoring native shellfish reefs lost to over-fishing and dredging, creating diving spots in at least 11 coastal communities smashed by bushfires and the virus.
Townsville's aquarium will also get a $5 million face-lift and marine park operators will be offered $3.2 million to monitor the Great Barrier Reef.
But the Climate Council and the Greens argue the $61.7 million nature tourism package is a drop in the ocean of what is needed.
"Our special nature spots and the green tourism industry needs real investment, not just the crumbs left over after the coalition has given the bulk of support to the fossil fuel lobby," Greens senator Sarah-Hanson Young said.
"This announcement is an insult to the thousands of small businesses that rely on our beautiful beaches, forests and parks being protected and cared for."
The latest funding commitments follow an earlier promise of $250 million for regional tourism initiatives.
The tourism peak industry body is confident demand will return as Australians look to escape cabin fever.
But it is concerned people are still thinking twice about booking plane tickets and choosing destinations within four hours driving distance of their homes, while the TTF wants the budget to include $50 million for a marketing campaign promoting domestic travel by air.
The government's announcement came just hours after 150 world leaders addressed the United Nations' biodiversity summit. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for nature-based solutions to be "embedded in COVID-19 recovery and wider development plans".
"Humanity is waging war on nature. And we need to rebuild our relationship with it. More than 60 per cent of the world's coral reefs are endangered due to overfishing, destructive practices and climate change," he said.
"Preserving the world's biodiversity can yield the jobs and economic growth that we urgently need today."
