Our Vision

Leading tourism to be a catalyst for positive change.

Our Mission

As the peak body for ecotourism and sustainable tourism we connect, champion, inspire and inform through strategic partnerships and global best practice standards.

Our Purpose

Sustainable, nature-based tourism and ecotourism are growing in demand. Ecotourism is the lighthouse of growing sustainable tourism more broadly. We pave the way for our operators and destinations to stand out with highly appealing products that support their business viability and the social, cultural and environmental pillars in their regions. We partner with destinations and operators so they can be global best practice leaders; and we enable the broader tourism industry to build a pathway to sustainability.

Our Values

Positive

We are proud of our legacy, we are optimistic and we continue to influence change as future-focused custodians for eco, regenerative and nature-based tourism.

Integrity

We work with trust, transparency and best practice standards and we help our certified operators and members create better experiences through ethical and sustainable operations and destinations.

Respect

We respect and advocate for global best practice standards and recognition of culture and we champion our operators, our team, and our sector.

Collaborate

We are one team and value our partnerships that help us connect, champion, inspire and inform our industry

Our Objectives

Ecotourism Australia has long been recognised as a pioneer.

• We are the first national ecotourism organisation in the world.
• We created the first ecotourism accreditation program in the world.
• We created the first climate change accreditation in Australia.
• We created the first ECO Destination Certification in Australia and the South Pacific. 
• We are a founding member of the Tourism Sustainability Certifications Alliance (TSCA).

We will continue to build that legacy through new products and services to support nature-based, eco and sustainable tourism with our strategic objectives:

Ecotourism Australia is recognised as the credible peak body for sustainable, eco, regenerative and nature-based tourism in Australia and the Pacific.

Ecotourism Australia is proactively driving targeted partnerships and diversified revenue streams to achieve strategic outcomes.

Ecotourism Australia’s certification products and services are the gold standard for existing and new member categories that match our peak body scope.

Ecotourism Australia has a strategic plan supported by business systems and processes to grow; and is agile in responding to emerging opportunities and threats

We achieve our objectives by:

• Designing and implementing globally recognised certification programs.
• Advocating for sustainable tourism and supporting our certified operators and members to promote the significant opportunities presented by eco and nature-based tourism experiences for Australia and the South Pacific.
• Maintaining key global partnerships including UNESCO, United Nations Tourism (formerly UNWTO) and global certifying organisations through the international Tourism Sustainability Certifications Alliance (TSCA).
• Working collaboratively with key local partners including Tourism Australia, Austrade, Parks Australia, Australia’s protected area managers, WWF Australia, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC), Caravan Industry Association of Australia, Accommodation Australia and the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse.
• Promoting ECO certified operators and destinations through the Green Travel Guide, assuring travellers that certified products are backed by a strong, well-managed commitment to sustainable practices and provides high quality nature-based tourism experiences.
• Supporting our certified operators, destinations and members with opportunities to collaborate, share and learn through conferences, forums and webinars.

Our Governance

Ecotourism Australia is a public company limited by guarantee, governed by a Board of Directors that is elected or appointed as per the Constitution.