Ecotourism Australia History

Ecotourism Association of the Indo Pacific Region is formed and later renamed the Ecotourism Association of Australia in 1992.

The world’s first National Ecotourism Accreditation Program (NEAP) is launched.

EcoGuide Certification is launched to certify high-quality guides across Australia.

The organisation is renamed Ecotourism Australia Limited (EA) in the International Year of Ecotourism designated by the United Nations General Assembly.

ECO Certification replaces NEAP.

Ecotourism Australia wins the Conservation Award at the World Tourism and Travel Council Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.

Respecting Our Culture Certification is adopted from Aboriginal Tourism Australia recognising high-quality, authentic Indigenous cultural experiences.

Climate Action Certification is launched focusing on operator actions toward mitigating their emissions.

56 operators awarded the first Green Travel Leader Certification for their commitment to greening the tourism industry by maintaining ECO Certification for 10 years or more as Ecotourism Australia celebrated 20 years of operation.

The combined annual turnover of all Ecotourism Australia certified tour operators exceeded $1 billion, demonstrating how ecotourism is no longer a niche but has become mainstream.

Ecotourism Australia launches the ECO Destination Certification program.

Port Douglas Daintree (Kuku Yalanji and Yirrganydji Country) region achieves Australia’s first ECO Destination Certification.

Ecotourism Australia partners with WWF-Australia through the Bushfire Recovery Fund to support destinations around Australia to ‘build back better’ after the Black Summer Bushfires of 2019-20. To date, the program has supported 10 destinations and 53 local operators to undertake ECO Certification.

Ecotourism Australia celebrates its 30th birthday and launches a new brand with a ‘ripple’ design, organically flowing outward, encompassing the ripple effect of our purpose to ‘do good’ and create greater change. With a hint of nostalgia, our gecko can still be found on the Green Travel Guide.

An extra two destinations achieved ECO Destination Certification taking the total to four.

The inaugural ECO Think Destination Forum is held in the Coffs Coast and Bellingen regions.

Central Coast (Darkinjung Country) and Augusta-Margaret River (Wadandi and Pibelmen Boodja Country) achieve ECO Destination Certification.

Ecotourism Australia launches the new sustainable tourism pathway program with a pre-certification benchmarking tool, Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard, and Sustainable Tourism Certification for non-nature focused operators and destinations.

A total of seven regions are now ECO Destination Certified.

Australia’s first tourism business is awarded Sustainable Tourism Certification (Bundaberg Rum Visitor Experience Centre).

Accor selected Ecotourism Australia as one of three global providers to provide ECO and Sustainable Tourism Certification to Hotels in Australia and the Pacific.

Ecotourism Australia has certified some 2000 tours, attractions and accommodation and reaches more than 500 Certified operators and 11 Certified Destinations.

With a focus on accessibility, Ecotourism Australia enhances their branding and launches a new corporate website. The new accessible Green Travel Guide will be live later this year.

Ecotourism Australia hosts the inaugural Global Sustainable Tourism Summit in Meanjin/Brisbane in June with more than 280 delegates and 62 speakers. The event marks a continuation of Ecotourism Australia’s proud legacy of hosting the world’s longest running ecotourism conference, Global Eco.