Vegetation in Queensland varies from tropical rainforest in coastal regions to arid Mitchell grass downs in the south-west. Plant species vary from banksias and eucalypts to tropical plants common throughout South-East Asia. Economy Mining, tourism and agriculture, are the three major industries. Sugar is the main export crop. Other important crops are wheat, sorghum, maize, cotton, tobacco and peanuts.
Tropical fruits grow extensively along the coast.
Beef cattle and sheep dominate the livestock industries. Coal is the most important mineral followed by copper, lead, bauxite and zinc. Queensland offers a great diversity of holiday and touring opportunities, with the Great Barrier Reef, tropical islands, rainforest and wilderness, open sandy beaches, and the vast outback, as well as the sophisticated attractions of Brisbane and major towns. International tourist numbers are expected to escalate from 1.5 million at present to 3-4.5 million by the year 2000. In the year 2000, 1.5 million visitors will be Japanese - double the present total.