Strengthening Sustainable Tourism in the Indian Ocean Territories
Ecotourism Australia is proud to share the findings from a transformative project to support sustainable tourism in the Indian Ocean Territories (IOT), on both Christmas Island and the Cocos Keeling Islands. This ambitious initiative saw us partner with the University of Queensland and the Christmas Island Tourism Association, thanks to a Parks Australia grant, with the aim to build both local business capacity and community engagement to deliver sustainable tourism experiences.
Central to our role was the delivery of the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard—a benchmarking tool designed to help tourism operators across the IOT assess, improve, and celebrate their sustainability practices. The Scorecard provided participating businesses with:
- A personalised assessment to identify strengths and opportunities
- Recognition for sustainability achievements
- Actionable insights for further progress on their sustainability journey.
Participating businesses encompassed a broad range of operators, from accommodation providers and tour operators to restaurants, attractions, and visitor centres. Ecotourism Australia project lead Shea Wittig visited the IOT on three occasions to provide one-on-one coaching and group workshops to help support businesses on their sustainability journey.
“It was such a privilege to be involved in this project and see the burgeoning tourism industry developing in such a unique part of Australia. From watching reef sharks and turtles ride the waves on Cocos Islands to experiencing the rich cultural diversity of Christmas Island, the highlights were unforgettable. Most of all, it was so rewarding to support the passionate local operators who make these islands so special.” Shea said.
In addition to supporting operators complete the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard, our team closely collaborated with the University of Queensland to ensure community voices shaped the future of tourism on Christmas Island. Key aspects included:
- Supporting a targeted research survey on residents’ attitudes and preferences
- Assisting in presenting findings at local industry forums and government meetings
- Amplifying local input by integrating community priorities into destination planning recommendations
Through this project, we advocated for the vision that nature-based tourism can underpin future prosperity in the IOT, especially as the region prepares for a post-mining future. The project’s key recommendations, which include a focus on robust destination planning, appointment of tourism experts in government, expanded support structures, and alignment with community aspirations, will ensure that tourism growth remains responsible and grounded in local values.
Read the full report for further details on the project and Ecotourism Australia’s collaborative approach to sustainability in the IOT.