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Recognised by Travalyst for Leadership in Sustainable Tourism

by | Sep 9, 2024 | Media Release

The Johnson Brisbane - Art Series Hotel. Image courtesy of Accor Pacific

Ecotourism Australia has been formally recognised by Travalyst, a global initiative dedicated to providing sustainability information that helps travellers make more informed and responsible choices.

Following independent review, both Ecotourism Australia’s ECO and Sustainable Tourism Certifications will be included in Travalyst’s list of compliant sustainability certifications for accommodation providers.

This initiative supports credible certifications through the evolving legislative landscape whilst providing consistency across travel booking platforms.

Joining 49 other organisations worldwide, this recognition underscores Ecotourism Australia’s global standing as a recognised and credible sustainable tourism certification body.

“Being formally recognised by Travalyst for our ECO and Sustainable Tourism Certification standards is a testament to the dedication we have put into developing our global best-practice standards, including developing the world’s first national ecotourism certification, and our tourism operators who have undertaken our certification program.

“We focus on driving continuous improvement and ensuring our ECO and Sustainable Tourism Certifications continue to be recognised globally. We are pleased to be part of this global movement making sustainability information more accessible to the tourism industry,” said Ecotourism Australia CEO, Elissa Keenan.

Travalyst partners with leading brands like Booking.com, Amadeus, Expedia Group, Google, Mastercard, Sabre, Skyscanner, Travelport, Trip.com Group and Visa to integrate sustainability information into mainstream platforms, empowering travellers to make informed decisions.

“This association enhances global visibility for our Certified operators, helping them build trust with eco-conscious consumers and connecting them with a growing audience of responsible travellers,” added Ms Keenan.

This collaborative approach is key to mainstreaming sustainable travel solutions across the tourism industry and addressing the growing demand for sustainable travel. According to Booking.com 76% of travellers want to travel more sustainably over the coming year, however almost half of these travellers (44%), say they do not know how to find or book a sustainable tourism experience.  Expedia Group report notes 7 out of 10 feel overwhelmed by where to start.

Travalyst is a not-for-profit coalition, founded in 2019 by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, of some of the biggest brands in travel and technology including Amadeus, Booking.com, Expedia Group, Google, Mastercard, Sabre, Skyscanner, Travelport, Trip.com Group and Visa. The coalition works pre-competitively to bring sustainability information to the mainstream to help people make more informed travel choices.

Ecotourism Australia has more than 200 Certified accommodation providers holding ECO or Sustainable Tourism Certification and a further 200 accommodation providers currently undergoing certification. You can discover all our Certified accommodations and experiences in the Green Travel Guide.

 

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IMAGES: Click HERE to download a selection of hotel images.

Media contacts:

 Ecotourism Australia – Jillian Santry, Communications and Events Officer

e: communications@ecotourism.org.au ph: 07 3256 6777

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