Monthly Archives: November 2021

It takes dedication and passion to pave the way for a sustainable future. By beginning their ECO Certification journey, tourism operators can ensure they are putting in place effective and ethical sustainability practices for the longevity of their operation and the conservation of the natural environment. Here are the tourism operators who completed their criteria and achieved certification in November 2021!

Mon Repos Turtles Centre (Bundaberg North Burnett Region, QLD)

Queensland’s popular turtle hatching center is making waves in the ecotourism industry.

In an outstanding pledge to sustainability in ecotourism, Mon Repos Turtle Centre in the Bundaberg North Burnett Region of Queensland has achieved three levels of ECO Certification with Ecotourism Australia.

Completing criteria for Advanced Ecotourism, Respecting Our Culture and Climate Action Business certifications, Mon Repos Turtle Centre is one of only 20 tourism businesses in Australia to hold all three Ecotourism Australia certifications.

Mon Repos Turtle Centre is the perfect school holiday trip for curious kids who love to learn about our unique marine life. There is no better time that now, at the beginning of turtle hatching season, to catch a glimpse into the turtle nesting cycle on their Turtle Encounters Tour, or visit the marine research interactive theatre display and test your sea turtle knowledge at the Turtle Centre.

Don’t miss out this turtle season! Book now.

Jetty Dive Centre (North Coast Region, ECO Destination Coffs Coast, NSW)

ECO Certification celebrations were shared as Jetty Dive Centre achieved Advanced Ecotourism Certification alongside their destination, Coffs Coast, who achieved ECO Destination Certification!

Coffs Coast is championing nature-based ecotourism in their region and is now home to six ECO certified companies just like Jetty Dive Centre.

Jetty Dive Centre is your key to experiencing the unique marine environment of the Solitary Islands Marine Park in New South Wales. Whether you prefer whale watching and eco tours from the comfort of a boat, or diving into an Open Water Scuba Diver Course with scuba diving experts, Jetty Dive Centre can cater to any experience.

This month, Jetty Dive Centre celebrated their 25th year of operating in the Coffs Coast – a testament to their expertise in creating memorable holidays! Owned by Mike and Deb Davey since 1996, the business started by operating a single charter boat and has since flourished into a successful dive centre.

See for yourself! Visit their Instagram and Facebook for the latest.

Saltwater Eco Tours (Sunshine Coast Region, QLD)

Our latest ECO certified operator welcomes you on board the vessel ‘Spray of the Coral Coast’, a beautifully restored 113-year-old timber sailing boat that has seen many adventures!

Saltwater Eco Tours in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Region achieved Ecotourism Certification and Respecting Our Culture Certification, offering tours along Mooloolah River that immerse their guests in Indigenous culture, maritime history and live music for the journey.

Sustainability is embedded in their business practices – and in your ticket. For each ticket sold, Saltwater Eco Tours donates $1.50 to the Southern Ocean Carbon Company to offset their already low carbon emissions and become carbon neutral. Donations are in the trusted hands of the Southern Ocean Carbon Company whose mission is to actively fight climate change by planting seaweed; a plant that grows incredibly quickly with great carbon sequestration potential.

Saltwater Eco Tours is the first tourism company of its kind in the region and hosts occasions from wedding celebrations to casual weekend outings. Discover them on their Facebook and Instagram!

 [Images: Mon Repos Turtles Centre, Jetty Dive Centre, Saltwater Eco Tours]

Driven by purpose, tourism and hospitality marketing and communications agency Helm have one goal; to help businesses and destinations discover their own purpose-driven mission.

Ecotourism Australia welcomes Helm to the family as our latest business member!

Helm use their extensive knowledge of the tourism and hospitality industries to bring business branding to life. Having a presence in Sydney (Warrang), Melbourne (Naarm), and Brisbane (Meanjin), Helm offer their services to like-minded tourism and hospitality businesses. Their expertise in brand development, market representation, public relations, and marketing and communications, is backed by a combined 30+ years of marketing and public relations experience from its cofounders Rachel Jones and Andrew Cavallaro.

Bound by a shared ethos for meaningful and purpose-driven messaging, Rachel and Andrew decided to blaze a trail for brand building that fore fronted social and environmental consciousness. Though launching recently, Helm has shaped brands for companies internationally such as UNESCO, UNWTO, and destination management company Essential Japan Travel.

But they don’t just encourage change. Helm create change. For every job they invoice, Helm will support Reforest Now by planting 10 trees.

Follow their Instagram and LinkedIn to keep up to date or contact Rachel and Andrew here.

Located in between Brisbane to the south and the Fraser Coast to the north, the Sunshine Coast region is a home of many beachside towns stretching from the coastal city of Caloundra to the Great Sandy National Park in the north.

Contributing $3 billion in Regional Gross Product and supporting an estimated 26,000 jobs, tourism is a significant industry for the Sunshine Coast region.

Visit Sunshine Coast (VSC) is the destination marketing organisation for the Sunshine Coast, Noosa, and Gympie regions, focused on promoting the region as a leisure and business event destination and maximising the long-term benefits of the visitor economy to the region. 

VSC’s Destination Tourism Plan outlines the importance of tourism sustainability for the region, highlighting the action to preserve the nature-based assets, creating authentic experiences and ensuring the region continues to be a compelling and attractive destination for longevity.

Visit Sunshine Coast (VSC) constantly supports local businesses by offering webinars and resources along with hosting events and campaigns to promote the areas. VSC’s latest campaign “Buy local, win local” aims to showcase small businesses by creating stronger connections between local businesses and consumers.
For more information about the campaign, visit here.

EA are happy to welcome Visit Sunshine Coast to our Ecotourism Australia family as a Business Member.

For more information, visit their webpage or follow them on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

[All images courtesy of Visit Sunshine Coast]

As travel restrictions start to ease and the tourism industry looks ahead to how it will change in a post-COVID world, Ecotourism Australia is celebrating its 30th birthday with a shift in strategic direction and an accompanying suite of new logos.

The changes, three years in the making, are significant but are very timely for the organisation, says Ecotourism Australia Chair, Dr Claire Ellis.

“Thirty years ago, our founders imagined a world in which travel was for good – where environments were protected, cultures were preserved and communities were connected thanks to a shared purpose. They were thought leaders, status quo challengers and bold, big picture thinkers.

“Today, their dream is the reality of travel. Operators and destinations have embraced sustainability principles as the foundations for their businesses and communities. The travel industry has realised that quality certification drives business success and resilience. And travellers themselves demand more from the places they visit,” she said.

Dr Ellis also noted that the challenges of the past two years had allowed the organisation to pause, reflect and review its role in the industry.

“The impacts of natural disasters and climate change combined with the challenges of COVID-19 have made this societal shift in thinking become more pronounced than ever. Businesses that are well prepared and attuned will benefit from this consumer-driven change.

“We will continue to support our members and strengthen our globally-recognised certification programs, as we step forward to take a stronger role in connecting, championing, inspiring and informing world that values travel for good.”

These changes from Ecotourism Australia will be implemented over the coming months and include a continued strong focus on destinations, stronger strategic partnerships and increased member-only benefits and industry resources.

This refocus supports the announcement today of Coffs Harbour as the second ECO Certified Destination in Australia and builds on the strong partnership between WWF-Australia and Ecotourism Australia supporting fire affected regions, as well as the solid foundations provided by outgoing CEO Rod Hillman.

Claire Ellis said it is an exciting time for the organisation:

“At Ecotourism Australia, we’re reimagining what the future of sustainable tourism looks like. We’re further strengthening our bold dreams of 30 years ago with our vision to lead and inspire the world to travel for good.”

–END–

As travel restrictions start to ease and the tourism industry looks ahead to how it will change in a post-COVID world, Ecotourism Australia is celebrating its 30th birthday with a shift in strategic direction and an accompanying suite of new logos.

The changes, three years in the making, are significant but are very timely for the organisation, says Ecotourism Australia Chair, Dr Claire Ellis.

“Thirty years ago, our founders imagined a world in which travel was for good – where environments were protected, cultures were preserved and communities were connected thanks to a shared purpose. They were thought leaders, status quo challengers and bold, big picture thinkers.

“Today, their dream is the reality of travel. Operators and destinations have embraced sustainability principles as the foundations for their businesses and communities. The travel industry has realised that quality certification drives business success and resilience. And travellers themselves demand more from the places they visit,” she said.

Dr Ellis also noted that the challenges of the past two years had allowed the organisation to pause, reflect and review its role in the industry.

“The impacts of natural disasters and climate change combined with the challenges of COVID-19 have made this societal shift in thinking become more pronounced than ever. Businesses that are well prepared and attuned will benefit from this consumer-driven change.

“We will continue to support our members and strengthen our globally-recognised certification programs, as we step forward to take a stronger role in connecting, championing, inspiring and informing world that values travel for good.”

These changes from Ecotourism Australia will be implemented over the coming months and include a continued strong focus on destinations, stronger strategic partnerships and increased member-only benefits and industry resources.

This refocus supports the announcement today of Coffs Harbour as the second ECO Certified Destination in Australia and builds on the strong partnership between WWF-Australia and Ecotourism Australia supporting fire affected regions, as well as the solid foundations provided by outgoing CEO Rod Hillman.

Claire Ellis said it is an exciting time for the organisation:

“At Ecotourism Australia, we’re reimagining what the future of sustainable tourism looks like. We’re further strengthening our bold dreams of 30 years ago with our vision to lead and inspire the world to travel for good.”

–END–

The Tourism, Events and Visitor Economy (TEVE) Branch of the Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts, and Regions is the latest Ecotourism Australia business member addition! As Victoria’s governing body of tourism, sports, and major events, TEVE is implementing a range of programs and strategies to strengthen tourism in the state and support its visitor economy.

Working to help the tourism industry recover following a devastating bushfire season and subsequent global pandemic, the Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions has released a four-year Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan with confidence it will guide the state’s tourism industry to recovery. The intensive plan is backed by findings from the Regional Tourism Review and an investment of $633 million towards the state’s successful recovery, outlining the importance of state-wide collaboration and marketing expenditure to attract tourists locally and internationally.

TEVE is responsible for making the voices of Victoria’s tourism industry heard, providing policy, strategy, and industry development advice to the government shaped by industry research.
Tending to its iconic attractions, TEVE has dedicated funding to the revitalisation of such icons as Wilsons Promonotory and the Great Ocean Road.

Victoria’s visitor economy is in good hands. Welcome, TEVE, to the Ecotourism Australia family!