The East Gippsland is the first destination in Victoria to meet global best practice sustainability standards to achieve ECO Destination Certification, with Ecotourism Australia.
As the first destination to be certified in the state, the East Gippsland Shire Council is a leader for the broader Gippsland region and is committed to inspiring sustainability outside of its borders. Nationally, East Gippsland is part of a select few, with only seven regions across Australia having achieved ECO Destination Certification.
Nestled within the lands of Gunaikurnai, Bidawel and Monero, East Gippsland has long been a draw for nature enthusiasts. The region boasts a treasure trove of world-renowned natural wonders, including the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve of Croajingolong National Park, the culturally significant Buchan Caves, the Alpine High Country, the expansive Gippsland Lakes, and the picturesque Ninety Mile Beach, offering endless stretches of golden sand.
In 2020 after devastating bushfires in the region; East Gippsland was the first of 10 destinations to be supported by the World Wide Fund for Nature–Australia (WWF-Australia) bushfire recovery fund to join the ECO Destination Certification program. With its adherence to sustainability principles, the ECO Destination Certification continues to help the region build back better.
“Maximising positive benefits for the community and the environment through sustainable tourism experiences is a core objective of the ECO Destination Certification. Through our partnership with WWF-Australia, we are proud to support East Gippsland’s ongoing recovery after the devastating bushfires in 2019-2020,” said Ecotourism Australia CEO, Ms Elissa Keenan.
“Sustainable and ecotourism helps to protect the natural environment, support the local community and build resilience within the visitor economy through the sustainable management, and positive environmental, socio-economic, and cultural impacts.”
The application for certification was led by the East Gippsland Shire Council with support from a variety of stakeholders. The East Gippsland Shire Council collaborated with vital partners at the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Parks Victoria, Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC), and Destination Gippsland. Destination Certification like this cannot be achieved without collaboration and region wide input into the application process.
Mayor Mark Reeves, East Gippsland Shire Council expressed pride in the recognition; “Our region has achieved a monumental success with ECO Destination Certification placing us among the select few regions in the country.”
Meeting over 90 criteria to achieve ECO Destination Certification at the level of Ecotourism, it assures travellers that the destination is genuinely committed to holistic sustainability and providing high-quality nature-based and sustainable experiences within the region. ECO Destination Certification confirms that the East Gippsland region has a strong commitment to ecotourism practices including cultural and environmental interpretation and education for visitors, contribution to environmental conservation and support for local business’s sustainability.
Darren Grover, Head of Healthy Land and Seascapes at WWF-Australia commented on the region’s recognition; “Ecotourism can be a great way for fire-affected communities to build strong, local economies while protecting and celebrating their cultural and natural heritage.”
“The growing demand for high-integrity ecotourism shows that we don’t have to choose between a healthy environment or a strong economy. We’re proud to have supported the East Gippsland community on its ECO Destination journey.”
A portion of the WWF-Australia funding has also been attributed to supporting eight additional businesses in East Gippsland to join the ECO Certification program. These businesses will join two existing ECO certified businesses who have contributed to the legacy of ecotourism in the region, including Gippsland High Country Tours which, also has ROC Certification, and was among the first operators in Australia to be certified in 1997.
Ecotourism Australia CEO Elissa Keenan attended the official launch and industry event in the Gippsland region today to present the region’s Certification certificate. Elissa spoke about Ecotourism Australia’s programs for businesses, including the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard, recently launched with founding partner Tourism Australia. The Scorecard is designed for any tourism business wanting to begin their sustainability journey and measures how they are performing across the four pillars of sustainability based on our globally recognised criteria for sustainable tourism.
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: sustainable management, environmental impact, socio-economic impact, and cultural impact. Each destination must pass an on-site audit conducted by a third-party auditor before Certification can be awarded.
Discover our latest ECO Destination: https://greentravelguide.org/destination/east-gippsland