Viewing entries posted in August 2020
MARGARET RIVER RETREAT ACHIEVES ECOTOURISM CERTIFICATION
Margaret River Retreat, near the majestic Boranup Forest National Park in Western Australia, is our newest ECO certified accommodation, and offers a diverse mix of accommodation styles ideal for any holidaymaker. These include luxury eco-glamping and four self-contained studio rooms, plus a safari camp and bush camp, both of which should be open by 2021.
COVID-19 AND THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
Conversation with Xu Jing, independent tourism adviser & former Director of Asia and the Pacific, UNWTO
Over the past few months, it has become evident that the tourism sector is one of the hardest hit by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. With international travel coming to a complete halt and constantly changing border restrictions between Australian states, not to mention intrastate limitations on how far and in what way people are allowed to travel, it is sometimes hard to see how there can be a light at the end of this tunnel. Our Communications Manager, Lina Cronin, spoke to former Director of Asia and the Pacific at the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Madrid to get an international perspective on the crisis and hear his thoughts on how the tourism sector has the opportunity to rise up to be more sustainable and responsible as a result of this pandemic.
10 MISTAKES SMALL BUSINESSES MAKE WHEN STARTING THEIR SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY
1. They don't document their plans
Many small businesses rely on a couple of people running them. They have plans, but they are all in their heads. Documenting business plans and procedures is important to reduce risks and ensure business sustainability. Writing down your processes and strategies makes you think of what you’re doing (and what you’re not doing) so that you can make better decisions and more easily introduce someone new to the business.
ECOTOURISM PHD UPDATE: OVERTOURISM IN THE AUSTRALIAN CONTEXT
Thi Hieu Nguyen is one of the four candidates of the Ecotourism Australia – University of Queensland PhD scholarships, working on the topic of overtourism. We asked her why she chose this topic, whether overtourism is really an issue in a place like Australia and how our members can get involved in her research.
WHAT KINDS OF EMISSIONS ARE YOU GENERATING? AND CAN YOU CHANGE THEM?
The disruption of the hospitality and tourism industry by COVID-19 has led to a drastic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. While the decline in greenhouse gas emissions benefits the environment, lockdowns and social distancing are not viable long-term strategies to combat global warming. Effective long-term strategies involve tourism businesses assessing and reducing carbon emissions generated by their operations.
ECOTOURISM CERTIFICATION FOR LORD HOWE ENVIRONMENTAL TOURS
Ecotourism Australia is proud to welcome its newest member, Lord Howe Environmental Tours, into the family and offer congratulations to their recent achievement of reaching Ecotourism Certification for their Coral Viewing and Snorkelling Tour, Ultimate Snorkelling Tour and Mt Gower Trek.