Townsville region achieves globally recognised tourism sustainability certification

by Ecotourism Australia | Apr 19, 2024 | Article

The Townsville region has met globally recognised sustainability standards to achieve ECO Destination Certification at the Nature Tourism level with Ecotourism Australia.

Townsville is the third destination in Queensland and the ninth in Australia to become an ECO Destination, solidifying the region as a leader in sustainable ecotourism.

It was funded to achieve the certification under the Queensland Government’s Eco-certified Tourism Destination Program which provided grants to councils and regional and local tourism organisations to support attainment of the high level ECO Destination Certification.

Situated at the doorstep of two World Heritage Areas, the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics, Townsville is a hub for iconic nature-based tourism experiences. The region boasts an incredible percentage of protected natural areas with 82 percent of its surface area managed to foster thriving natural values. Townsville region is also home to the popular tourist destination, Magnetic Island, and the internationally important Bowling Green Bay Ramsar Wetland.

“Ecotourism Australia is pleased to award ECO Destination Certification to the Townsville region,” said Ecotourism Australia Head of Destinations and Member Services, Ms Alyssa Sanders.

“Being adjacent to such remarkable environmentally and culturally significant natural wonders, it is important for, and indeed a responsibility of, the local tourism industry and all who visit and reside in Townsville to adhere to strong sustainability principles.

“Townsville’s ECO Destination Certification not only inspires tourism businesses to implement responsible practices and achieve formal recognition, it also helps communicate expectations to tourists, and enhances visitor and community engagement with local sustainability initiatives.”

The region is committed to boosting the sustainability of its tourism product and eight local businesses are Certified through Ecotourism Australia’s globally recognised business programs. One of Townsville’s top attractions, Billabong Sanctuary, holds Advanced Ecotourism Certification and is part of Ecotourism Australia’s Hall of Fame for more than 20 years of continuous ECO Certification. Additionally, Townsville City Council operates the Advanced Ecotourism Certified Eco Catchment Tours, providing educational and interactive tours to enhance the local community’s connection to the area’s diverse land- and coastal-scapes.

The Certification application was led by Townsville City Council with collaboration from key stakeholders including Townsville Enterprise Limited, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

The Council’s commitment to their community in achieving a sustainability-driven future for tourism has been clear throughout the application process.

Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson said he was proud to see the region achieve ECO Destination recognition from Ecotourism Australia.

“Council is incredibly proud to have worked with Ecotourism Australia, Townsville Enterprise and our other key stakeholders to secure ECO Destination Certification for our city,” Cr Thompson said.

“As a Council we are continuously working to enhance our existing tourism offerings and creating new landmark tourism destinations, capitalising on our city’s position between the rainforest, wetlands and the Great Barrier Reef.

“We are thrilled to have achieved ECO Destination Certification and are looking forward to seeing how tourism and hospitality businesses across Townsville go the extra mile to showcase our city well into the future.”

Townsville Enterprise Limited Director of Visitor Economy and Marketing, Lisa Woolfe, congratulates Townsville City Council on the collaborative approach to securing this globally recognised sustainability certification for the city.

“With more than 76% of people wanting to travel sustainability, today’s announcement demonstrates Townsville’s credibility on a global scale to meet current and future visitor demand.”

“Townsville Enterprise is proud to have built our region’s destination brand “Townsville North Queensland – Up for Unexpected” to not only drivesustainable visitor growth but has also provided a strong foundation of research that supported the accreditation process.”

“We acknowledge the significant efforts from our eight Ecotourism certified operators who have heralded this title for a number of years, and continue to pave the way for the rest of our tourism industry.”

“Our region has always been at the forefront of sustainable industries, eco-tourism along with our strengths and potential in renewable energy, positions Townsville North Queensland as Australia’s most liveable green city.”

Queensland is transitioning towards a sustainable visitor economy, with a vision to be recognised as a global leader in sustainability and ecotourism.

Tourism and Events Queensland CEO, Patricia O’Callaghan said that this is a major milestone reached for the region and Queensland.

“Congratulations to the Townsville region on this wonderful achievement.

“The region is a nature-based tourism hub with two World Heritage Areas, the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics as it’s backyard.

“This is the third destination in Queensland to become ECO Certified and it’s a testament to the dedication of the region to increase their formal sustainability credentials.

“Queensland is proud to have the most ECO Certified tourism businesses in Australia, which underscores our industry’s dedication to environmentally responsible management of our stunning natural resources, while also providing visitors from across the globe the opportunity to immerse themselves in the beauty of Queensland.”

Townsville City Council was a recipient of the Queensland Government Department of Tourism and Sport’s Eco-Certified Tourism Destination Grant in 2022 to expand their destination sustainability certification.

Member for Townsville Scott Stewart said this certification helped bring even more eyes to the great tourism experiences in the region like Magnetic Island.

“The Queensland Government is working to position Queensland and our tourism destinations as leaders in sustainable tourism.

“It is great to see Townsville has achieved ECO Destination Certification under the program which provided up to $150 000 to eligible applicants to achieve certification.

“In line with Towards Tourism 2032 this program will help our tourism destinations meet a growing demand from tourists for the places they visit to prioritise low impact travel, a high quality nature based experiences and an ongoing commitment to sustainability.”

ECO Destination Certification at Nature Tourism level assesses 81 criteria centred on the four pillars of sustainability: sustainable management, environmental, socio-economic and cultural. The Certification is adapted from the Green Destinations standard, which is recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. By becoming an ECO Destination, Townsville joins a network of more than 200 international destinations promoting sustainable management, responsible tourism, and positive socio-economic, environmental and cultural impacts.

Ecotourism Australia’s Head of Destinations, Alyssa Sanders, is in Townsville today at the ECO Destination Certification Announcement event to award Townsville City Council with their official certificate and present to key stakeholders.

Learn more about ECO Destination Townsville on the Green Travel Guide: https://www.greentravelguide.org/destination/townsville

ENDS

Media Contact:

Ecotourism Australia: Georgie Snare, Communications and Events Officer, (e): georgie@ecotourism.org.au (ph): 07 3256 6777

Townsville City Council: Danaella Wivell, Senior Media Officer – Community Engagement, (e): danaella.wivell@townsville.qld.gov.au (ph): 07 4417 5108 (m): 0409 264 974

Bellingen Shire achieves prestigious ECO Destination Certification

by Ecotourism Australia | Apr 10, 2024 | Article

The Bellingen Shire has received recognition for its commitment to global sustainability standards announcing they have been awarded Ecotourism Australia’s prestigious ECO Destination Certification.

The region joins an elite cohort of eight Australian destinations dedicated to sustainable tourism and is the fourth in New South Wales to achieve this significant feat. Through Ecotourism Australia’s certification partner Green Destinations, Bellingen Shire is also recognised in a global network of more than 200 leading sustainable destinations.

The Shire is renowned for its stunning coastal scapes, dramatic waterfalls and World Heritage-listed rainforest scenery with State Forests and National Park covering more than half of the local government area, making it a haven for ecotourism and nature-based tourism activities.

Following the 2019/20 Summer Bushfires, the destination joined the certification program with support from the World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia’s (WWF) Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund. With its adherence to sustainability principles, this latest ECO Destination continues to help the region build back better through ecotourism.

“We congratulate Bellingen Shire on their achievement of ECO Destination Certification. This is a significant milestone on the region’s sustainability journey, and a recognition of their commitment to sustainable tourism practices,” said Ecotourism Australia CEO, Elissa Keenan.

“Maximising positive benefits for the community and nature through sustainable tourism experiences is a core objective of our ECO Destination Certification and we look forward to ongoing partnership with Bellingen Shire as they support their own industry to adopt sustainable tourism practices and Certification.”

The Certification application was led by the Bellingen Shire Council with collaboration and support from a variety of stakeholders including Gumbaynggirr representatives, National Parks and Forestry, business chambers and the local community throughout the application process.

“Today marks a significant milestone – this certification formally acknowledges our strong, well-managed commitment to sustainability and high-quality nature-based tourism,” said Bellingen Shire Mayor Cr Stephen Allan.

“Council and our community are proudly focussed on sustainable tourism that benefits businesses, locals and visitors alike. This is about us asking our visitors to join us in protecting our natural treasures and honouring our cultural heritage.

“We look forward to continuing the partnership with Ecotourism Australia and working with our local business community as they adopt their own sustainable tourism practices. We’re all on a continuous learning journey together.”

Meeting 90 criteria to achieve the globally recognised certification at the Ecotourism level, assures travellers that the destination is genuinely committed to holistic sustainability and providing high-quality nature-based and sustainable tourism experiences within the region.

“We’re pleased to see the Bellingen community placing such a strong focus on tourism experiences that are good for people and nature,” said Darren Grover, WWF-Australia’s Acting Chief Conservation Officer.

“We know there are a growing number of travellers who are hungry for nature-based tourism experiences, so we must ensure this industry is made as sustainable and nature positive as possible.”

“Bellingen Shire’s achievement of ECO Destination Certification is a fantastic accomplishment,” said Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox.

“This prestigious recognition showcases their commitment to sustainable practices and positions them as a leader in ecotourism. With the addition of Bellingen Shire, NSW now has four ECO certified destinations to help meet the growing demand for sustainable travel experiences and is well-positioned to attract visitors seeking an authentic and eco-friendly adventure.”

The ECO Destination Certification supports nature-based tourism destinations to improve their holistic sustainability planning and development against the four pillars of sustainability: environmental, socio-economic, cultural and sustainable management, as well as encourage local business engagement in ecotourism and sustainability. 11 Bellingen Shire tourism businesses are currently undergoing the pre-certification benchmarking program Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard to measure and improve their current sustainability practices.

Ecotourism Australia CEO Elissa Keenan is attending the official launch event in the Bellingen region today to present the Shire’s Certification certificate and offer her congratulations.

The ECO Destination Certification was developed by Ecotourism Australia using the international Green Destinations standard, which is recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. The Certification assesses a region across the four pillars of sustainability and the destination must pass an on-site audit conducted by a third party auditor before Certification can be granted.

Discover Australia’s latest ECO Destination, Bellingen Shire: https://greentravelguide.org/destination/bellingen-shire

ENDS

Media Contact:

Ecotourism Australia: Georgie Snare, Communications and Events Officer, (e): georgie@ecotourism.org.au (ph): 07 3256 6777

Bellingen Shire Council: Gemma Steller, Communications & Engagement Lead, (e): gsteller@bellingen.nsw.gov.au (ph): 6655 7300