Category Archives: News

Happy Mother’s Day 2021! As always, this is a chance to reflect on and be thankful for the mothers who have helped us grow and become the people we are today. There are many mothers to celebrate this year, particularly those who have been busy raising their newborn calves, pups, and joeys at our Ecotourism Australia’s certified zoos and wildlife parks! Read on to see how these mums have been introducing their babies to the world.

Photo: Taronga Western Plains Zoo, NSW

Mum: Bathika

Baby: Sabi Star

Location: Taronga Western Plains Zoo (Advanced Ecotourism certified)

You can now watch this soon-to-be gentle giant grow up at Green Travel Leader and Advanced Ecotourism certified Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo! Making her long-awaited public debut at the end of April, Black Rhino calf Sabi Star was alert to her new environment and onlookers, but mum Bathika gave her the comfort and direction she needed to adjust to her new environment.

Just like human mums, Black Rhino mums are vital to their calves’ development, and Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s Black Rhino keeper Hayley Brooks says Bathika is already teaching her calf how to wallow in the mud, which is used as a cooling technique under the hot sun. Sabi Star has even been seen mimicking her mother’s feeding – a great sign that she is learning the tools she needs from a wonderful mother!

Photo: Monarto Safari Park, SA

Mum: Forrest

Babies: Fahari and Mahali

Location: Monarto Zoo (Advanced Ecotourism and Climate Action Leader certified)

This adorable duo can be seen roaming around Monarto Safari Park, operated and managed by Climate Action Leader and Advanced Ecotourism certified Zoos South Australia. These hyena cubs were born on the 13^th of September last year, however, after five months without names, Monarto Safari Park is proudly announcing this pair as Fahari and Mahali. After receiving 900 votes from the public, it was decided that the names Fahari meaning ‘magnificent’, and Mahali meaning ‘place’ would prove an excellent fit. And how could we forget the wonderful mum to these cubs, Forrest!

Fun fact: Once their cubs are born, Hyena mothers stay with their newborns for two weeks to form a strong familial bond and to recognize each other’s voices. 

Photo: Adelaide Zoo, SA

Mum: Poppy

Baby: Quokka joey (name TBC)

Location: Adelaide Zoo (Advanced Ecotourism and Climate Action Leader certified)

Zoos South Australia’s Adelaide Zoo has also seen the arrival of a shy newborn Quokka! Quokka mothers give birth only 27 days after mating, while their joeys first face the world as tiny, pink and hairless babies.  Now that this joey is about five months old and has started to poke his head out of his mother’s pouch, it won’t be long before he’s brave enough to hop around the exhibit to explore. Such a feat could not be done without the enormous help of his mother, Poppy.

Who’s your mum, and what are you thankful for her teaching you this Mother’s Day? Let us know in the comments below!

(Cover photo: Adelaide Zoo Facebook) 

Nature-based tourism operators in Queensland are being given a boost this month thanks to a new agreement between long-term industry partners, Ecotourism Australia (EA) and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) to cross-recognise each other’s certification programs.

EA certifies Australian nature-based tourism operators and destinations through its ECO, Respecting our Culture, Climate Action and destination certification programs. QTIC certifies Queensland-based tourism businesses through the national Quality Tourism Accreditation program.

Thanks to the new agreement, Ecotourism Australia’s over 200 certified operators in Queensland will receive all benefits of the Quality Tourism Accreditation program (QTAB).

These benefits include licencing to use the nationally recognised Quality Tourism Accreditation branding, access to their own ReviewPro online reputation management dashboard and automatic eligibility for the Queensland Tourism Awards. Operators will also only be charged one, unchanged fee and be subject to a single, triennial audit.

Chair of Ecotourism Australia, Dr Claire Ellis, praised the agreement, saying it was a logical evolution of the organisations’ long-standing relationship.

“Our industry relies on strong partnerships and now, more than ever before, it is vital we work together for the benefit of our operators and the industry more broadly. This will not only make businesses stronger and save them money but enable ourselves and QTIC to provide more integrated support as we work towards the sustainable recovery of our industry,” said Dr Ellis.

Shane O’Reilly, QTIC Chair and Managing Director of O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, an Ecotourism Australia Hall of Fame entrant, said that the agreement was a solid reflection of how both organisations focus on their members, their future sustainability and viability and engage them in ways to make their members more robust, and more resilient.

“While this will eventually strengthen both EA and QTIC as well, it is [the organisations’] focus on their members rather than themselves which makes this sharing of benefits such a special initiative. Tourism businesses need this type of initiative and grounded support and I encourage others in the political arena to take notice.”

Photo: QTIC CEO Daniel Gschwind and EA CEO Rod Hillman with the signed agreemenet

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Contact: Lina Cronin, Communications Manager: 07 3256 6777 / [email protected]

ADDITIONAL INFO

Ecotourism Australia (EA) is a not for profit, membership-based organisation inspiring environmentally sustainable and culturally responsible tourism. Internationally recognised through the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, EA designs and delivers certification programs for tourism products and destinations, assuring travellers that these are backed by a strong commitment to sustainability and quality.  For more information visit www.ecotourism.org.au.

The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) is the peak industry body for tourism in Queensland, acting as “The Voice of Tourism”. QTIC is a not-for-profit, private sector, membership-based organisation representing the interests of Queensland’s tourism and hospitality industry and working in partnership with government agencies and industry bodies at a local, state and national level to strengthen the voice of tourism in all relevant policy forums.  For more information visit  www.qtic.com.au.

Ensuring Ecotourism Australia’s certification remains world’s best practice and reflects current global trends in nature-based tourism and ecotourism, as well as promoting and profiling EA-certified tourism businesses, destinations and guides are key recommendations from Tourism and Events Queensland’s recently released Nature-based Tourism Strategy 2021–2024.

The New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau has joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) as a destination member. The New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau is a non-profit, political subdivision of Volusia County Government, established in 1987 that is charged with marketing southeast Volusia County and the cities of: Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach, […]

The post New Smyrna Beach Joins GSTC appeared first on Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

New York Times: How to Travel More Sustainably Don’t skimp on doing your own research, and be aware that ‘green’ certificates aren’t always all they’re cracked up to be. Looking for a hotel or tour operator that has earned a sustainability label might seem like a good place to start, but the reality isn’t so […]

The post How to Travel More Sustainably – NYT Article appeared first on Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).