MEDIA RELEASE: ECOTOURISM AUSTRALIA FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Ecotourism Australia has signed an historic partnership agreement with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) this month, cementing its position as a global leader in the field of sustainable and nature-based tourism and setting the stage for increased collaboration between the two organisations.
The partnership, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili and Ecotourism Australia Chair Dr Claire Ellis, sets out key areas of collaboration including:
- Exchanging information on how national policies promote nature-based tourism and ecotourism
- Collection, compilation and analysis of statistics on nature-based tourism and ecotourism
- Cooperation on other areas such as UNWTO’s activities in South Pacific countries in relation to sustainability, nature-based tourism and climate change
“Ecotourism Australia is working closely with Australia’s nature-based tourism operators, destinations, protected area management agencies and government to help deliver social and environmental improvements to our regions, said Dr Ellis.
“As global tourism grows, sustainability in our sector is more important than ever.
“With our increased focus on climate action, destination-wide certification and pursuing partnerships to deliver things that really matter to our members, we are excited to be entering into this partnership with the world’s leading tourism authority and look forward to working closely together over the coming months.”
The partnership will also be an opportunity for Australia to re-engage with UNWTO, the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of sustainable development through tourism.
“Tourism regularly outgrows the world economy and international trade. We not only have the responsibility to face up to the development challenge, we also have a real opportunity to deliver. UNWTO is very happy to partner with Ecotourism Australia to further advance tourism as a partner of the three pillars of sustainability - environment, economy, and society,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili.
As Australia’s ecotourism industry’s national advocate and standard setter, Ecotourism Australia continues to work closely with its international and national partner organisations to deliver world leading certification programs and drive value for its members.
For more information about Ecotourism Australia, visit the Ecotourism Australia website: www.ecotourism.org.au
For more information about UNWTO, visit the UNWTO website: http://www2.unwto.org/
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For questions and comments, please contact: Rod Hillman, CEO - 0427 279 414