The annual Mon Repos turtle season encounters will open for visitors on 6 November 2020 with bookings available from 12 October.
The announcement comes after last yearās turtle encounters ended prematurely due to COVID-19 and bushfires.
COVID-19 restrictions will be implemented to ensure safety.
āFor the safety of visitors, locals and staff in line with the park's COVID plan, visitor numbers have been reduced for the Turtle Centre and Turtle Encounter tours,ā the Government's announcement said.
āNightly visitor numbers will be restricted to 70 people with a maximum of 14 people per tour group (excluding school groups).
āWe are continually working with the Department of Environment and Science, and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and will continue to keepĀ industry updated on this year'sĀ turtle season.ā
Bundaberg Tourism chief executive Katherine Reid said the Mon Repos Turtle Encounter is a hero experience which attracts visitors over summer.
āAs the exclusive ticketing provider for the Encounter for many years, Bundaberg Tourism delivers a comprehensive destination marketing campaign to maximise the Encounterās visitors, drive visitor dispersal and encourage increased length of stay and overnight visitor expenditure,ā she said.
āThe 2019-20 season saw the launch of the new Mon Repos Turtle Centre. The encounter was at 79 per cent capacity, with over 26,000 people attending, and had an estimated regional impact of $9.5 million.ā
āThe season was impacted by the summerās bushfires events and then COVID-19, with more than 3000 fewer guests attending.ā
Ms Reid said 80 per cent of last yearās visitors came from within Queensland.
āThe second largest market was from Bundaberg (16.7 per cent), then nearly 11 per cent from overseas and 9 per cent from interstate,ā she said.
Mon Repos is home to the largest turtle rookery on the Australian east coast.
- Other news: Elijah accepts no butts from litterers