Ecotourism Australia welcomes the announcement today by Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson that Federal Government with their counterparts around the country would assist the Tourism Industry deal with the issues around Climate Change.

“The National Long Term Tourism Strategy launched today has correctly identified that Climate Change is the primary challenge facing the tourism industry,” Ecotourism Australia CEO Ms Kym Cheatham said. “Ecotourism Australia welcomes the recognition that Government has a role in improving industry understanding of the impact of climate change, and preparing the Australian tourism industry for a carbon-constrained future.”

“However, it is important to ensure that tourism operators have practical tools to enable them to adapt and adjust not only to climate change itself, but also to the changes in the consumer and the legislative environments.” Ms Cheatham said.

The National Long Term Tourism Strategy identifies that “consumers in key Australian tourism markets are increasingly focusing on climate change and environmental sustainability when making purchasing decisions. Through enhancing awareness of environmental protection and sustainability, and ensuring proper management of natural assets, Australia has the opportunity to counteract negative consumer perceptions and purchasing behaviours, and to gain significant economic, social and cultural benefits from sustainable tourism.”

“As the strategy recognises, Australia’s natural environment is a significant part of Australia’s appeal as a travel destination,” Ms Cheatham said. “Ecotourism Australia looks forward working in cooperation with government to assist the Australian tourism industry face the challenge of climate change.”

For more information contact:

Kym Cheatham, Chief Executive Officer,

Ecotourism Australia

E: ceo@ecotourism.org.au, M: 0427 279 414

www.ecotourism.org.au

ABN 92 909 103 274
The Ecotourism Australia vision: "To be leaders in assisting ecotourism and other committed tourism operations to become environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially and culturally responsible".

Ecotourism Australia was formed in 1991 as an incorporated non-profit organisation, and is the peak national body for the ecotourism industry. Ecotourism Australia aims to grow and promote ecotourism and to assist tourism operators to become environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially and culturally responsible.

Membership includes tour operators, ecotourism accommodation, tourism planners, protected area managers, academics and students, regional tourism associations and travellers.

Ecotourism Australia’s certification program ECO is a world first. It provides objective monitoring and auditing of organisations’ ecotourism claims and provides travel agents and tourists with an assurance of best practice ecological sustainability, natural area management and quality ecotourism experiences.

Ecotourism Australia recently added ROC (Respect Our Culture) Certification for Indigenous Tourism operators and Climate Action Australia Certification to help the tourism industry work towards a more sustainable future.

In 2008, Ecotourism Australia was awarded the prestigious World Travel and Tourism Council “Tourism for Tomorrow” Award for Conservation at the World Tourism Summit in recognition of Ecotourism Australia’s significant contribution to the conservation and preservation of natural heritage.