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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.

Understandably, the current focus of every tourism business is to reopen and start generating revenue again. We argue that right now, as the industry starts to reopen, it is the perfect time to assess the carbon emissions of business operations and determine which operations can be modified to reduce emissions and, at the same time, operating costs into the future.

Often people only think of direct emissions related to travel, like fuel. But indirect emissions also need to be taken into account. / Photo: Maui, Britz & Mighty Motorhome & Campervan Rentals (Nature Tourism certified)

Dr. Ya-Yen Sun from The University of Queensland and colleagues published a study in the prestigious journal Nature Climate Change in 2018 showing that tourism contributes eight percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The study indicated that to reduce tourism’s carbon footprint, efforts are required to address both direct and indirect emissions.

Direct emissions are caused by a tourism business, for example from the fuel used to run a boat. Indirect emissions are emissions produced by suppliers of tourism businesses, such as the energy used by local restaurants to make food and drinks that are consumed on-board, during a tour.

Offering local products can help to reduce food-related emissions. Mimosa Wines is located 16km from Tanja Lagoon Camp. / Photo: Tanja Lagoon Camp (Ecotourism certified)

 

Calculating carbon emissions caused directly by tourism businesses, therefore, only reveals a portion of the complete impact, given that supply chain emissions are typically greater than direct emissions. Yet, no user-friendly tool is currently available to tourism operators that would allow them to calculate the indirect, life-cycle related greenhouse gas emissions their processes cause.

Our research project addresses these challenges, and the resulting insights will enable tourism operators to evaluate the indirect carbon emissions of their services – a process that to date is complex and cost prohibitive for most businesses.

Busselton Jetty used Plastic Free July to educate people about using more sustainable household products. / Photo: Busselton Jetty (Ecotourism certified)

With a slow reopening of tourism and continued forced downtime for some operators, the tourism industry can use this time to evaluate the sustainability of its tourism practices. Just like Ecotourism Australia members do through their certification, these are the times operators and tourism businesses can ask themselves questions like: How can we conserve resources? Are we using local suppliers? Are we purchasing organic and environmentally responsible products? Are we doing our best to minimise waste? Do we have a process for monitoring and auditing compliance with best practice? Are there any local conservation projects that our business might get involved with?

Putting sustainability into practice during COVID-19 will enable tourism operators to return to business as usual with a more sustainable operating model. Sustainable business models and practices lead not just to lower operational costs but also create value by contributing to the advancement of society environmentally and socially.

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.

Family-run Lord Howe Environmental Tours was established in 1998 and operates on the World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island. The island is located approximately 600 kilometres off the north coast of New South Wales and is accessible via a two-hour direct flight from either Sydney or Brisbane. Lord Howe Island is the epitome of Australia’s natural landscape and offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in unspoilt island living while exploring from the top of the mountain range to the coral gardens of the world’s southernmost reefs. 

Lord Howe Environmental Tours understands tourists might wonder where to begin an adventure when visiting an island with geological origins which date back over seven million years. How better to learn about the unique natural history than with a specialist 3^rd generation team who share not just what they have learnt as a leading tourism operator but, more specifically, what they live every day? It reaches a whole new level of local knowledge when visitors learn that the cultural history of this island isn’t necessarily documented but rather passed down orally through the generations. It really doesn’t get more authentic and specialised than that!

Lord Howe Environmental Tours is led by Dean and Roslyn Hiscox. Dean is director and a passionate naturalist whose experience is founded on a 16-year tenure as a board ranger, where he managed the island’s natural environment. Roslyn, also a director and Dean’s wife, is a fifth-generation islander who is passionate about encompassing nature, culture and the island’s unique historical story into their signature tours. Kayla and Darcelle are both 6th generation islanders and sharing their love of the island’s rich and diverse ecosystem is embedded in their DNA.

During the flight to Lord Howe Island visitors receive essential information regarding the compulsory environmental management of the Marine Park and the Permanent Park Reserve (national park) – routines which are a mandatory requirement for those living and operating businesses on the World Heritage-listed island. For example, the broader community have achieved an 86% diversion of waste from landfill by introducing compulsory recycling, pushbikes are the main transport method around the island and visitors and locals can be involved in a conservation volunteers program for important research projects.

Lord Howe Island only permits 400 visitors to the island at one time and Lord Howe Environmental Tours has developed a range of tours and itineraries, which include seasonal recommendations and feature the migrating pattern of millions of seabirds. There are a range of options which are specifically designed to ensure guests experience the natural value and beauty of the island while identifying with the need to continually protect its diversity and preservation.

Visitors quickly get a sense of how proud and excited these operators are to show visitors their island. A trek to Mount Gower, the highest point of the island, is recognised as one of the Australia’s top day walks. With elevated views of surrounding Balls Pyramid, Mt Lidgbird, the coral reef lagoon and the north settlement area are a well-earned reward for reaching the summit of 875 metres. Visitors can enjoy the unique fauna of the region, including the Lord Howe Woodhen, Golden Whistler, Silvereye and Currawong inhabiting the mist forest with ferns, orchids, trees and mosses not seen anywhere else in the world. With the trek taking approximately five hours to reach the summit and four hours to descend it’s easy to see why committing to this day trip isn’t a decision to be taken lightly.

A visit to the island wouldn’t be complete without marvelling at the diversity of the seascape found in the lagoons. In-depth interpretations introduce visitors to over 80 species of coral and 500 species of fish including the yellowtail, kingfish, bluefish, marlin, tuna and hundreds of species of tropical fish which can be enjoyed by people of all ages from the comfort of the glass bottom boat. Those who are after a bit more of a hands-on learning experience can enjoy two hrs exploring the calm and pristine waters by joining one of the snorkelling tours which visit four thriving locations within the lagoons. Plan to visit during the summer months and join the night snorkel where, thanks to the specialised underwater torches, the coral is highlighted in all its florescence glory. 

In between tours there are opportunities to walk or cycle around the island, enjoy a picnic or dine at one of the local cafés, be treated to a massage or set out on a kayak or paddle board.

Responsible travellers can be confident in the ethical foundation of the Lord Howe Environmental Tours as three of the team are responsible for reviewing and updating the Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan and two team members sit on the Lord Howe Island Marine Park Advisory Committee as well as being involved in reviewing the Lord Howe Island Marine Park Operation Plan. Ecotourism Australia is proud to be partnering with such a dedicated contributor to the tourism industry and a company which holds the protection of national biodiversity, while providing positive natural immersion experiences to visitors, at its core.

For more information about Lord Howe Environmental Tours, visit their website or Facebook page. 

[All images thanks to Lord Howe Environmental Tours.]

We are currently facing an unprecedented global health crisis, with repercussions that are being felt in all sectors of society and the economy, especially in the tourism sector. However, at moments like this it is important to remember that tourism has shown a strong resilience to adapt, innovate and recuperate from adversity and we should get prepared for recovery.

At an initial phase, domestic and intraregional tourism is expected to catch up faster than intercontinental travel. The impacts of actions such as restriction of movements have contributed to international tourism coming to a standstill and therefore many tourists are considering alternatives such as travelling closer to home while finding simple pleasures and reducing carbon emissions.

In addition to the growing tourism demand for more sustainable options, it is important to consider post COVID-19 trends such as the preference of travellers for outdoor activities such as long-distance walking activities, taking holidays in their home country, and considering the environment and travel emissions when travelling.

Photo: Parks Australia

Booking.com’s 2019 Annual Sustainable Travel Report found that ‘sustainable stays are growing in popularity, with almost three quarters (73%) of global travellers intending to stay at least once in an eco-friendly or green accommodation when looking at the year ahead’.

These new and past trends represent benefits for the recovery of the ecotourism sector, which is founded on sustainability and looking towards partnerships and adaptation actions. We are happy to see that many of our members have been putting into action the ideas outlined in the UNWTO COVID-19 Tourism Recovery Technical Assistance Package.

Photo: Crystal Creek Meadows

We would like to highlight the following examples and encourage tour operators to continue with their recovery plan:

1. Parks Australia have been helping travellers to imagine their future travel experience by providing expert advice and recommendations to inspire future planning and instil confidence in trip decisions. This aligns with UNWTO’s statement: “Stay home today. Travel tomorrow.”.
2. Crystal Creek Meadows Luxury Cottages & Day Spa Retreat have been an example of using social media to notify guests about safety procedures.  Informing guests about existing protocols in an easy and updated manner reassures travellers that they can get back to travelling with confidence.
3. South Australia has been leader in designing a domestic tourism marketing strategy which identifies products and destinations particularly appealing to different segments of the domestic market. Understanding what domestic travellers want and love; e.g. food, adventure, and romance, etc. helps to customize their online experience.
4. Ocean Rafting has focused on raising awareness of local experiences for local travellers, aiming to educate and familiarize locals about the importance of domestic tourism to accelerate recovery.

Photo: Ocean Rafting

Congratulations to our members for their recovery actions and for being an example to others. 

[Header image: Kosciuszko National Park by Steve Bruce/Unsplash]

Ximena Alvis is one of the four candidates of the Ecotourism Australia – University of Queensland PhD scholarships, working on the sustainable destinations topic. Ximena just finished the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Sustainable Tourism Training Program (STTP) as part of her PhD’s research phase and shares her thoughts on this course that she says offers practical insights and effective steps to help participants improve their sustainability practices.

EA: Why did you decide to take part in this training?

XA: I always wanted to do the GSTC course but now it seemed even more appropriate to understand how the criteria works, especially the destination criteria, as this is my PhD topic. I believe having a better understanding of the value of these principles and criteria will help me understand the whole picture, and how important the engagement of stakeholders is in a destination in order to have a long but successful journey of sustainability.

EA: Who is the Global Sustainable Tourism Council?

XA: As per the GSTC website: “The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are two sets: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, and Industry Criteria for hotels and tour operators. These are the guiding principles and minimum requirements that any tourism business or destination should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources, while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation.” (GSTC website: www.gstcouncil.org/about/about-us/)

EA: Who participates in GSTC’s Sustainable Tourism Training Program?

XA: In the one month online course that I took, there were over 40 participants from all over the world, and from different parts of the tourism industry: tour operators, hotel personnel, government officials, students, tourism consultants, entrepreneurs, academics, and more. The course was eye opening in many ways. For example, the course gave us the opportunity to keep updated with the topic of sustainable tourism and the efforts that organizations, governments, the industry and academics are making. We also learnt how sustainability helps ‘Build Back Better’ and can help improve the way tourism is working. There is recognition that sustainability is a long but necessary journey to take on, especially in this COVID era.

EA: What kinds of topics did the course cover?

XA: The course gave an overview of the sustainable tourism principles and the roles of the GSTC in promoting the adoption of those principles, as well as key considerations for addressing sustainability challenges. These include stakeholder engagement, education, communications, capacity building, environmental impacts, visitor satisfaction and how to ensure local culture and traditions are incorporated into visitor experiences in a respectful manner.

EA: Would you recommend this training program to others?

XA: I would highly recommend Ecotourism Australia members to take the course if they haven’t already. It is a great opportunity to make new professional contacts with people that have the same sustainable goals as EA members, and to keep updated with information and new discoveries in the sustainable world.

Course details:

The GSTC Certificate in Sustainable Tourism runs 5 to 6 times a year, the training classes are twice a week (1 hour per day) in a 4-week online course. The cost depends in membership and time of enrolment, from US$ 395 to US$ 495. For more information visit: www.gstcouncil.org/sustainable-tourism-training/ or contact [email protected]

Mindful Travel Solutions is a small travel agency with a difference. Under the motto of ‘by travelling the world, we can make a world of difference,’ this company, run by passionate traveller Amanda, focuses on providing travel memories that last a lifetime while preserving the things travellers love most about the places they visit – the people, animals and environment.

While Mindful Travel Solutions provide travel agency services for worldwide adventures, they specialise in eco stays in Australia and Asia and donate 10% of all their profits to Cambodian charities focused on creating educational opportunities and scholarships, protecting against child trafficking and providing food and supplies to those in need.

Amanda has over a decade of travel sales experience and a degree in international development, making her the perfect person to ensure her clients’ holidays leave lasting positive memories, not lasting negative impacts. She cares deeply about both her clients and the destinations she sends them to, and it’s this focus on genuine care and connection which sets her travel agency apart.

Based in Melbourne but easily contactable online, Mindful Travel Solutions offers genuine, personalised service, flexible payment options and a fantastic option for those seeking memorable, ethical and responsible travel experiences.

To find out more, visit the Mindful Travel Solutions website.

[Images: Mindful Travel Solutions]

Congratulations to BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort for achieving Ecotourism Certification!

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort is located in Airlie Beach and offers self-contained holiday cabins as well as camping and caravan sites. The family-owned business is one of Queensland’s leading resort holiday parks with onsite activities for the whole family.

For BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, preserving and protecting the area’s ecosystems and natural resources is a priority. The resort has an on-site nursery that propagates every plant used throughout the park. You can find plants like neem tress across the resort, a native deterrent for sandflies, as well as numerous flowering tropical trees and shrubs to attract native butterflies and birdlife.

Local residents include wallabies, bandicoots, ducks and green tree frogs and the resort is committed to educating guests on how to not interfere with wildlife, encouraging them to only take photos.

The resort provides a true eco experience by offering a wide variety of eco-friendly activities and accommodation options. Accommodation options range from traditional camping and caravan sites to budget-friendly cabins and luxurious condos.

When in the resort, immerse yourself in gardens with thousands of plants used to create an enchanted tropical wonderland, enjoy enormous outdoor balconies and the brand new waterslide park.   

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort is committed to sustainable practices throughout the management of its business following the ‘reduce, reuse, and recycle’ principle.  Its dedication to reducing emissions is accomplished by the use of bikes for transport where possible, electric buggies, low flow shower heads, and a solar roof mounted system on the conference centre and maintenance shed roofs to generate power.

Congratulations again on joining the Ecotourism Australia family!

For more information about BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort visit their website or Facebook page.

[All photos thanks to BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort]