Ecotourism Australia: A Report on Sustainable Tourism Practices

This report provides an overview of sustainable tourism, using Ecotourism Australia as a case study. It explores the organization's objectives, which center on promoting ecologically sound practices within the tourism industry. The report delves into Ecotourism Australia's operations, including its Climate Action certification program aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting environmental sustainability. It highlights the organization's efforts in community development, job creation, and inspiring visitors to adopt sustainable travel practices. The outcomes discussed include Ecotourism Australia's role as a peak industry body, its initiatives in preserving cultural heritage, and its collaboration with local and regional tourism boards to promote sustainable tourism. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of ecotourism in empowering host communities, preserving ancient knowledge, and encouraging visitors to minimize their carbon footprint by choosing eco-friendly travel options. The report stresses the significance of contributing to communities for an authentic and educational tourism experience.

Running head: SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
Sustainable Tourism
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Executive Summary:
The purpose of this report is to present a brief illustration on the subject matter of sustainable
tourism. In this regard an example of an organization has been selected in order to provide in
depth understanding of the subject matter of ecotourism in modern era. The preservation of the
natural environment and various tourism practices without degrading the communities has been
emphasized in detail in the assignment. Lastly it has been stated that how consumers can
contribute to the tourism industry in Australia by adopting the new concept of sustainable
tourism.

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Table of Contents
Introduction:..................................................................................................................................3
Discussion:......................................................................................................................................3
Objectives:..................................................................................................................................3
Operations:.................................................................................................................................4
Outcomes:...................................................................................................................................6
Conclusion:.....................................................................................................................................7
References:.....................................................................................................................................8

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Introduction:
In the modern era the concept of tourism is growing rapidly. The phenomenon of tourism
is growing rapidly and the impacts are intensely varied. It can be observed that from time
immemorial the concept of tourism has played an important role in uplifting the socio-economic,
political and environmental development in the destination countries by offering new
opportunities. However in recent trends with the arrival of sustainable tourism the concept of
tourism received new recognition. The concept of sustainable tourism rears from sustainable
development. In order to meet the requirements of the present without compromising the ability
of the future generation to meet their own needs and requirements the term sustainable
development has arrived (Dowling 2013). Thus sustainable tourism can be defined as a tourism
activity which will be beneficial in maintaining long term results for uplifting the social, cultural,
economical and environmental development of a country. This assignment seeks to provide an
illustration of an organization known as Ecotourism Australia whose focus from the very
beginning was to promote the practice of ecotourism throughout Australia by developing
ecotourism practices.
Discussion:
Objectives:
Since time immemorial Ecotourism Australia has been successful in holding
sustainability as a core principle in its business operations (Ecotourism.org.au 2018). The
website states that Ecotourism Australia from the very beginning has set out its objectives in
promoting and delivering ecologically sound practices at the limelight of the tourism industry

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(Ecotourism.org.au 2018). As stated by the website Ecotourism Australia is a certification
provider for over 1,500 tourism products. It is noteworthy to mention here that the certification
programs provided by Ecotourism Australia has been successful in creative incentive for tourism
operators in order to grasp best methods of practice by encouraging tourism sustainability in
future (Wearing et al., 2014). The annual Global Eco Conference is hosted by the Ecotourism
Australia the longest conference of ecotourism in the world. The tourism organizations,
operations, protected area managers, best practices initiatives and sustainability has been brought
together by the conference. Ecotourism Australia has provided a different meaning to the
definition of ecotourism. According to it ecotourism is something which is ecologically
sustainable whose primary focus is to experience the natural environment by nurturing the
understanding based on culture and environment, conservation and appreciation.
Operations:
Ecotourism Australia in order to emphasize on environmental impact developed the
Climate Action certification program in order to dedicate to the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions. According to the staffs the Ecotourism Australia has under the Climate Action
certification and therefore is certified as a Climate Action Leader by achieving the highest level
of certification under this program (Cobbinah 2015). The contribution of Ecotourism Australia in
the promotion of environmental sustainability has been remarkable. The Ecotourism Australia as
a Climate Action leader has been successful in limiting the amount of greenhouse emissions
from the operational framework by managing the extent of risks relating to the change of
climatic impacts (Walker and Hawkins 2013). The staffs have confirmed that a wide range of
strategies have been developed in order to mitigate risks of climate changes. According to the

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staffs such developed range of strategies may be present in the offices of Ecotourism Australia
by ensuring smooth working of the operations which will remain well sustained in the future.
The development of early tourism provided little consideration to the limitations of
natural resources, indigenous cultures and the protection of wildlife. However the Ecotourism
Australia has focused in promoting sustainable tourism in order to create opportunities for
community development in the remote areas. Ecotourism Australia as an organization has chosen
sustainable tourism over the polluting ventures of tourism. The contribution of Ecotourism
Australia has been enormous in creating job opportunities, building regions, protecting the
natural environment and inspiring the visitors (Gössling and Buckley 2016). In this way the
organization has created impact on current and future development of social, economic,
environmental factors by addressing and balancing the needs of the visitors. Currently, the
operations of Ecotourism Australia are involved in the promotion of sustainable travel in order to
provide benefits to the host communities and culture by minimizing the impacts on environment
(Smits 2013). The operations of Ecotourism Australia are not directed towards economic
achievements however it emphasizes on educating the tourists about the concept of travelling in
natural environment. According to the officials of the organization by selecting an experience in
ecotourism over the traditional system of decision the consumers will be making a sensible
decision in order to reduce the impact on environment (Ecotourism.org.au 2018). As stated by
the officials such decision can be personally gratifying and consumers opting for ecotourism are
responsible citizens.
The investors of Ecotourism Australia aimed to adopt sound technologies in order to
minimize the consumption of groundwater. The investors of Ecotourism Australia have focused
on the use of ecological materials by the installation of renewable sources of energy. The

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investors from the very beginning have provided the application of ecological methods in
maintaining the grounds of National Parks including the maintenance of golf courts and
recreational gardens.
Outcomes:
Ecotourism Australia being Australia’s peak industrial body had represented about 500
operators and members since time immemorial. In this regard in order to achieve sustainable
future the Ecotourism Australia has provided consistency in increasing the resources for cultural
heritage (Carmody 2013). According to the officials National parks and other protected green
areas are the principal assets of ecotourism and government should take initiatives for the
protection of these National Parks so that the industry could flourish in the future
(Ecotourism.org.au 2018). In order to meet National Standards, the Ecotourism Australia
promoted the development of tourism within these National Parks in order to ensure protection
and value in the long run. By reorganizing the current policies on ecotourism several initiatives
were taken by the group of Ecotourism Australia in strengthening future tourism agencies and
destination development. The officials confirmed that the national and state governments have
developed and implemented various plans based on ecotourism. In order to expand research on
tourism the chairman of Ecotourism Australia has emphasized the development of reports based
on the outcomes and indicators of tourism (Hewett 2014). The organization by including its
stakeholders has created local and regional tourism boards. These tourism boards have proved to
be beneficial in promoting the concept of sustainable tourism within the local and regional
governments. As stated by the officials the tourism boards provided assistance in motivating the
consumers to adapt ecotourism above the traditional methods of tourism. The tourism boards
helped to promote education on ecotourism in a large extent.

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Conclusion:
In the conclusion it can be stated that in order to improve the environment along with the
lives of host communities. For instance the subject matter of ecotourism can be considered as a
powerful tool in empowering the host communities by protecting their environment. Ecotourism
Australia has undertaken the concept of ecotourism by enhancing employment opportunities with
the preservation of ancient knowledge and culture. In order to create positive opportunities for
sustainable development the concept of sustainable tourism was adopted by the organization in
order to develop positive opportunities for community development in remote areas. The
Ecotourism Australia has been successful in developing long and short term plans in order to
benefit the tourism industry in Australia. Lastly it can be stated that in order to minimize the
effect of carbon footprint in travel it is required that visitors should adopt the new concept of
ecotourism in order to make the world a better place to live in. in order to experience authentic
and educational tour it is important that individuals should contribute back to the communities.

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References:
Carmody, J., 2013. Intensive tour guide training in regional Australia: an analysis of the
Savannah Guides organisation and professional development schools. Journal of Sustainable
Tourism, 21(5), pp.679-694.
Cobbinah, P.B., 2015. Contextualising the meaning of ecotourism. Tourism Management
Perspectives, 16, pp.179-189.
Dowling, R., 2013. The history of ecotourism. International Handbook on Ecotourism. Edward
Elgar, pp.15-31.
Ecotourism.org.au. (2018). Sustainability » Ecotourism Australia. [online] Available at:
https://www.ecotourism.org.au/about/sustainability/ [Accessed 10 Jan. 2018].
Gössling, S. and Buckley, R., 2016. Carbon labels in tourism: persuasive
communication?. Journal of Cleaner Production, 111, pp.358-369.
Hewett, P., 2014. Cooper Creek Wilderness: perspectives on maintaining a successful
ecotourism-driven private protected area in Australia. Journal of Ecotourism, 13(1), pp.64-70.
Smits, E.A.J., 2013. ‘Community participation’and ‘community involvement in the benefits’
among ecotourism operators: Comparing theory with practice by means of an in-depth case
study in the Daintree Coast, Australia (Master's thesis).
Walker, K. and Hawkins, E., 2013. Watching and swimming with marine mammals: the
international scope, management and best practice in cetacean ecotourism. International
handbook on ecotourism, pp.169-177.

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Wearing, S.L., Cunningham, P.A., Schweinsberg, S. and Jobberns, C., 2014. Whale Watching as
Ecotourism: How Sustainable is it?. Cosmopolitan Civil Societies: An Interdisciplinary
Journal, 6(1), pp.38-55.