Category Archives: News

Our newest business member Fastrack is hosting a special webinar on Wednesday, 30 September, 11:00am AEST, supported by Ecotourism Australia around rebound business strategy and business beyond COVID-19.
 
With more and more travel restrictions lifting across Australia, thousands of travellers are booking right now across every sector of the industry.  Many are looking for an eco-based experience.  Are you experiencing a surge in bookings? If not, then register now for this highly interactive, FREE members webinar hosted by Adrian Caruso from Fastrack, one of the industry’s leaders in digital ‘Rebound Strategy’.
 
Learn where you need to be right now, whether you’re open, closed or looking for new business. In this webinar you will learn how to create the perfect rebound plan to get cut-through (it’s as competitive as ever!) and immediate bookings.
 
Register now and learn:

• Travellers are emerging in their thousands. Is your business front of mind?
• What does the future hold for travel?
• Advertising do’s and don’ts. What to do now for instant bookings
• Turn your rebound plan into a marketing plan and bookings
• Getting the best from your internal teams
• How to catch up if you’ve fallen behind
• Great rebound marketing campaign examples
• Get your most pressing questions answered

Founded over 17 years ago in Brisbane by Adrian Caruso, Fastrack started off helping businesses in the travel and tourism industry generate more direct bookings.

Fastrack Digital has branched out to many of the APAC markets to work with a wide range of operators in the hotel, tourism and lifestyle industries. From a fully outsourced approach to upskilling their client’s internal teams, Fastrack Digital customise the strategy best suited to their client’s business, employing experts to guide success. Ethical, innovative and profitable projects with collaboration is at the heart of everything they do.
 
Fastrack Digital devote themselves to getting to know each client, their organisation and their audiences, crafting customised solutions to address their challenges.

To view the webinar recording, click here. 

For more information, visit Fastrack’s website, Facebook or LinkedIn

Our newest business member Fastrack is hosting a special webinar on Wednesday, 30 September, 11:00am AEST, supported by Ecotourism Australia around rebound business strategy and business beyond COVID-19. Get in quick and register now as this special webinar is limited to only 300 places.
 
With more and more travel restrictions lifting across Australia, thousands of travellers are booking right now across every sector of the industry.  Many are looking for an eco-based experience.  Are you experiencing a surge in bookings? If not, then register now for this highly interactive, FREE members webinar hosted by Adrian Caruso from Fastrack, one of the industry’s leaders in digital ‘Rebound Strategy’.
 
Learn where you need to be right now, whether you’re open, closed or looking for new business. In this webinar you will learn how to create the perfect rebound plan to get cut-through (it’s as competitive as ever!) and immediate bookings.
 
Register now and learn:

• Travellers are emerging in their thousands. Is your business front of mind?
• What does the future hold for travel?
• Advertising do’s and don’ts. What to do now for instant bookings
• Turn your rebound plan into a marketing plan and bookings
• Getting the best from your internal teams
• How to catch up if you’ve fallen behind
• Great rebound marketing campaign examples
• Get your most pressing questions answered

Founded over 17 years ago in Brisbane by Adrian Caruso, Fastrack started off helping businesses in the travel and tourism industry generate more direct bookings.

Fastrack Digital has branched out to many of the APAC markets to work with a wide range of operators in the hotel, tourism and lifestyle industries. From a fully outsourced approach to upskilling their client’s internal teams, Fastrack Digital customise the strategy best suited to their client’s business, employing experts to guide success. Ethical, innovative and profitable projects with collaboration is at the heart of everything they do.
 
Fastrack Digital devote themselves to getting to know each client, their organisation and their audiences, crafting customised solutions to address their challenges.

For more information, visit Fastrack’s website, Facebook or LinkedIn

An Open Letter to the Prime Minister, Federal Treasurer, State Premiers and Territory Chief Ministers

Ecotourism and nature-based tourism is an important economic driver and extremely vital for many regional economies and communities throughout Australia, and it needs support.

Natural attractions, iconic ecotourism experiences, and accommodation offerings in nature have been the hallmark of promoting Australian tourism to domestic and international markets for decades. In many ways, these experiences define how travellers see and experience Australia. They are Brand Australia.

The importance of the survival of ecotourism and nature-based businesses must not be under-estimated.  The experiences they offer are the drawcard for when state and international borders re-open. These businesses drive regional economies with sustainable jobs and bring much needed cash into the regions. The businesses benefit the communities they operate in, and the environment they engage with.

The reality facing ecotourism and nature-based tourism businesses is very challenging. The impact of COVID-19, on top of the bushfires, droughts and floods has significantly affected our industry and some businesses will not survive.

In March 2020, more than 90% of ECO Certified tourism businesses closed their doors and now, six months later, a third remain closed. Of those who are operating, many are doing so at unsustainable levels. Beyond easy driving distance from capital cities where travel is permitted, ecotourism and nature-based tourism is still on hold.

The September 2020 “State of the Industry Report” by Ecotourism Australia highlights the reality of being a regionally based ecotourism operator. You may be open but not at full capacity, you are extremely likely to be severely stressed about your own wellbeing and your business’s future, you’ve probably had to let your skilled and experienced staff go and your cash flow has been decimated. When recovery comes these people need to be in a position to rebuild and reactivate their businesses and themselves.

For economic recovery Australia needs ecotourism and nature-based tourism operators to survive. Our Australian communities need to be able to easily engage with nature to provide the mental and physical health recuperation we all know is desperately needed by many.

Imagine an Australia without trips to the Great Barrier Reef, guided walks through our National Parks, or tours that allow people to swim in the ocean with dolphins and whale sharks.

Without increased and ongoing support these experiences could simply disappear or become low quality and devalue the Australian brand and reputation.

To ensure these experiences are still offered when borders open and visitors return, ecotourism and nature-based businesses need:

• Ongoing JobKeeper support that includes support for a casual and seasonal workforce.
• An expanded grant system to cover fixed business costs such as insurance, rent/ leases, loan payments, etc.
• Regional, state and national programs that encourage and reward quality businesses that deliver high levels of service with sustainable operations. 
• The lowest levels of restrictions on travel, border crossings, overnight stays, and tour densities in each region, that still ensure the health requirements are met.
• Ongoing, coordinated and resourced business, wellbeing and mental health counselling for tourism operators to ensure small and medium business owners are ready for the recovery.
• Development of a National Nature Based Tourism Strategy

The ecotourism and nature-based tourism industry implores you to consider and include these measures in budget planning.

Support that has been issued to date has certainly helped, but many operators are not yet even on the road to recovery. We must see financial support expanded to ensure our regional businesses are alive and ready for the recovery as and when borders open once again.

ENDS

For questions and comments, please contact Nadine Schramm, Membership Coordinator: [email protected], +61 7 3256 6777.

Ecotourism Australia is the peak national body for eco and nature-based tourism representing close to 500 businesses across Australia whose annual combined revenues are approximately $1.4B and directly employ over 9,000 people. Established in 1991 it operates a range of tourism certification programs, conferences, advocacy and consultancy services.

Managing Owner of Eco-Accounts, Anita Simpson, helps ecotourism businesses track activities to provide clarity on the profitability of their seasonal cycles so they can plan ahead and focus on delivering awesome customer experiences.

Eco-Accounts has been working with small business clients for the past six years and is now focusing entirely on working with ecotourism businesses in Australia. Anita is a certified bookkeeper and BAS Agent but is also a qualified scientist in the Wilderness Reserves and Wildlife field.

Eco-Accounts understand foreign currency and merchant fee transactions, prepayments and refunds, and even how to track tours and locations so you can get a clear snapshot of your business operations. Eco-Accounts offer consulting expertise in selecting the right program/s and automating them to save you valuable time and achieve business success.

Photo: LinkedIn / Eco-Accounts

Eco-Accounts are passionate about the natural environment and want to help their like-minded clients set up their accounts correctly and look after compliance obligations.

Money Monarch T/A Eco-Accounts is a Registered BAS Agent holding a Public Practice Certificate with the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers and holds voting membership with the Australian Bookkeepers Association.

Their services are in Australia, working with ecotourism businesses Australia-wide. Eco-Accounts will not be outsourced to overseas providers – in these trying times they strongly believe in supporting local. Fully covered by Professional Indemnity Insurance for your peace of mind.

Working with specialised accounts professionals has its added bonuses as well. Eco-Accounts has an ever-growing wildlife photo library that fixed-fee clients are free to use for their digital marketing content.

Eco-Accounts offer free no-obligation consults, book here 

For all other information, visit the Eco-Accounts website here and LinkedIn here 

Banner Image: Eco-Accounts

Symon has been travelling for many years and has no plan of stopping any time soon. Having visited over 20 countries across Europe, Asia, South America, North America, and the South Pacific, Symon has a goal to reach 30 by age 30.

Symon is an MTA – Mobile Travel Agents operator. MTA, licensed since 1991, are a wholly owned and operated Australian business, whose travel experts are hand-picked travel professionals with extensive industry experience.

Photo: Facebook / Symon Collingwood MTA

Growing up in Cairns, on the coast of Far North Queensland and now living and operating out of the Sunshine Coast, Symon has developed an appreciation for nature-based, sustainable travel ecosystems.

Visit Symon’s website here, Facebook or LinkedIn  for more information.

Banner image: Symon Collingwood MTA