Tasmania releases plans for eco-tourism

Aiming to compete with Australian eco tourism efforts from Queensland, Tasmania’s State Government has released plans to relaunch the region as a eco-friendly based tourism destination.

Working with Melbourne, Global Eco Asia Pacific Tourism Conference convener Tony Charters explained the two states would team up to build tourism to southern Australia.

“Going on current form, that will pair Melbourne as the lead tourism city with Tasmania as the heartland of ecotourism, making southern Australia a formidable destination,” Mr Charters said.

Mr Charters said the benefit of building an eco destination had fallen short with many Governments down under while locations in Asia are “running at 100mph” with the sector.

He explained that while establishing the state as an eco-destination, the long term benefits would more than cover the efforts.

“Ecotourism is not a ‘quick fix’ option for governments to plug the holes after a resource boom, for example,” Mr Charters said.

“It is a very logical and forward thinking choice for Tasmania, but it will take 15 years to bed the industry in.

“Once that is done, ecotourism will provide more jobs than logging, be sustainable and form an important plank of an export oriented economy.”

Mr Charters added that as a whole the country needed to invest more into its natural attractions and utilise them to increase visitor numbers.

According to the convener, the Great Barrier Reef’s figures are sitting around the same as 20 years ago while Kakadu numbers fell compared to visitors in the early 90s.

“National parks for example need ongoing support from government, not just a one-off injection of funds,” he explained.

“Other states can take the lead, with long term vision and investment roughly equivalent to one sports stadium each year, but spread across the state’s protected areas.

The Global Eco conference is being held in Sydney from November 7th to 10th.

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Australia puts more into eco-tourism

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As the strong dollar in Australia drive Aussies overseas, many in that country believe that Australia could benefit from building its ecotourism sector and attract more international visitors.

According to Tourism Conference for Ecotourism Australia organiser Tony Charters, eco-tourism arrivals in Australia have remained steady over the past 20 years and a boost in the sector could fill the void left behind by domestic travel.

“We know Australians have developed a taste for international holidays and that growing international visitor numbers is now critical,” Mr Charter stated.

Not much has changed since the sector launched down under two decades ago, according to Mr Charters, with The Great Barrier Reef still hosting 1.3 visitors per year, Fraser Island and Shark Bay seeing small rises since the 1990’s while Kakadu witnesses a drop in visitor numbers.

He suggests Australia look at utilises one of its key unique qualities in the industry, offering travellers the opportunity to meet Indigenous Australians and learn from them.

“Maybe Australia needs to re-read the book on ecotourism – the book it wrote in the early 1990’s,” Mr Charters added.

He stressed the sector could become Australia’s ‘Swiss watch’ with focus on quality, reliability and reputation.

“Currently the opportunities are too few and far between.”

Mr Charters will be speaking at the upcoming Global Eco Conference to be held in Sydney this year from 7-10 November.

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Brunei targets Australian Tourists for Ecotourism

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Brunei is targeting the tourists and residents of Australia, especially Victoria, as a wonderful place to visit, with magical opportunities in eco-tourism especially with its unspoilt pristine jungle compared to many other tour destinations around the world. It becomes the Sultanate’s principality and Australians are well known for their interests in eco- tourism.

We hope Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) has very successful fly in the sky for many years to come,” said Bruce Atkinson, President of the Legislative Council and state member of Eastern Metropolitan region in a speech to senior government officials from Brunei Darussalam marking RBA’s inaugural flight to Melbourne.

“We are always delighted to welcome a new airline to Victoria.

“We have better airports in Australia. Melbourne is clearly one of the most important gateways to Australia.

Victoria is an important state for Australia particularly in food manufacturing which is of interest to Brunei and increasingly to tourism.

One of the interesting aspects about tourism is Victoria has no natural wonders like some other states have.

“A lot has been said about our shopping and the Formula One Grand Prix which was held last week and many other sporting, convention programmes and cultural activities.

“We are very fortunate to bring many people to Australia through Melbourne.

When we have another opportunity to bring another airline, Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) to Melbourne, RBA passengers find it convenient to go to Australia via Melbourne, as a gateway to Australia.

“We see opportunities for more Australians and more visitors from other parts of the world to Australia looking at RBA as an alternative to go and perhaps experience Brunei, which is a terrific opportunity.

RBA is the 27th airline to come into Melbourne and effectively puts around another 120,00Q international seats into Melbourne each year as RBA flies four times a week.
“I think it is going to be an effective and successful route for RBA and a bridge to many events perhaps like exports and trade opportunities and in working with the Brunei government, its agencies and companies particularly in Halal branding,” he said.

“There are terrific markets out there for Australian food and beverage manufacturers to try and match in business through the export market.

Certainly Halal endorsement is a very significant marketing tool worldwide.

With us working to some extent with Malaysia and now with Brunei Darussalam to extend their Halal brand in food, it certainly gives a good opportunity,” he added.

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GPS Adventure Guides are set for the ipad and ipod, iphone, for Eco-Tourism

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‘Experience is Everything’ was the conference theme where international delegates and nature celebrities, including David Bellamy, got to see how the latest GPS Video Tours can deliver the ideal Eco-Tourism experience.

The ‘ECO RANGER’ automated video tour demonstrates how new technology can be used to “explore the world without impact”. Using the rugged, waterproof GPS Ranger ™ devices the attendees were able to experience the natural beauty of Noosa Heads National Park whilst receiving an informative, educational and entertaining tour.

Eco-Tourism and Experiential Tourism are among the highest growth sector of the industry. This innovative, low impact and flexible solution allows tourists to get out and explore whilst receiving the ultimate personal guided experience. Australia’s unique position and opportunity to lead the world in sustainable tourism practices were a key focus and technology like this can make a real difference.

The innovative video tour device uses GPS to trigger short movies that educate the user about the key things at that specific location. As you explore, the videos and narrative automatically play whilst the stereo speakers allow you to share the experience within a small group. The system is very flexible and can be set up to present videos in any language as well as deliver information suitable for any visitor from young children to university professors.

Using these tools the ability to educate the modern independent visitor without intrusive signage, disposable printed material or a significant carbon footprint has arrived in this pocket sized video guide.

The content for the Noosa National Park journey was created by environmental experts and gives visitors a unique insight into many aspects that make Noosa National Park so special. The ‘ECO RANGER’ tour will inform you about everything from the local surf beaches, the prized Biosphere status and formation of the landscapes to the cultural history, insights into local flora & fauna and much more. With a range of interactive and engaging ‘quiz questions’ you cannot help to learn something along the way.

This revolutionary concept has also been prepared as an iPhone & iPad application that allows visitors to explore with their own GPS enabled technology. Introduced into Australia after significant success across the United States, these flexible solutions give a new dimension to independent traveling. From parks to museums, the use of technology puts all the best information directly into the palm of your hand.

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Mount Buffalo Chalet goes eco-tourism friendly

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Mount Buffalo Chalet, one of the state’s tourism landmarks, could get a new lease of life under an ambitious plan by a north-east Victorian community group to reopen it as an eco-tourism resort showcasing local food and wine.

Victorian Environment Minister Gavin Jennings has announced that the State Government will work with the Mount Buffalo Community Enterprise company over the next 12 months to help develop an accommodation and tourism plan for the chalet.

“The group intends investigating an exciting redevelopment which will make the chalet a world-class sustainable all-year resort showcasing local food and wine as well as eco-tourism, bush walking and bike riding,” Mr Jennings said.

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Japanese Academic lobbies for more sustainable practices for Japan

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Lessons learned at Australia’s national parks are expected to help a leading Japanese academic lobby for more sustainable practices in his home country.

Chuo University Professor Masahiro Yabuta is learning about sustainable management and education while working alongside colleagues at The University of Queensland’s School of Tourism.

Professor Yabuta will be at the school until March next year, with plans to visit important natural sites such as the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru and Kakadu National Park.

He has been researching the management and education systems of natural and cultural heritage sites with Head of School Roy Ballantyne, senior lecturer Dr Noel Scott and senior research fellow Dr Sally Driml.

“I have come to learn about management systems in Australia because they are first-class here. I have many things to learn,” Professor Yabuta said.

“It is important to keep tourism sustainable. A balance and commitment from government, industry and the community is important.”

Communities and businesses wanted to make money from tourist sites, but it should not come at the destruction of the natural sites the visitors came to see, Professor Yabuta said.

“Rapid development of a tourism industry could cause problems. There needs to be protection of the environmental tourism site. There must be support from government to ensure this.”

Professor Yabuta said he was also keen to find out just who the average eco-tourist was, so promotion and education programs could be specifically tailored.

“Everybody wants to be an eco-tourist now. Eco-tourism is a very fancy and popular word. It has a feel-good factor for everybody. People think going green is good for them. But when an economy driven
by eco-tourism and going green come together, it can be difficult to get a balance.”

Professor Yabuta said recent research showed only about 10 per cent of people tended to consistently behave in an eco-friendly way – even when going on holidays.

“In most other instances, people sometimes behave as eco-tourists and sometimes they don’t. They might have a low-flow tap but not drive an economical car. They might not save on power consumption but they do like nature.”

Eco-tourism was one way to help people see the importance of being green and ensuring they did not cause destruction at sites such as national parks.

“It is all about education. It is life-long education. They need to understand protection of nature by each person is important for sustainable tourism and keeping national parks for future generations.”

Professor Yabuta hopes to use what he has learned at the School of Tourism to help design government policies in Japan aimed at ensuring a balance between tourism development and environmental protection.

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Australia asks tourists to only use eco-certified tour companies

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Australia‘s marine park authority is encouraging international travellers to use only eco-certified operators when visiting the Great Barrier Reef.

Speaking to e-Travel Blackboard at ATE 2010 yesterday, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Hilary Skeat said two million tourists visit the iconic site each year.

Of those tourists, around 50 percent experience the GBR with operators that have been independently certified by Ecotourism Australia, she said.

However, the marine park authority is trying to encourage more tourists to do the same.

In a partner stand with Ecotourism Australia at ATE this year, it has handed out flyers and fish-shaped stress balls inked with small reminders to visiting international buyers to book with eco-certified operators.

Skeat said that the marine authority also encouraged their own set of best practices on the reef including the use of moorings by marine park vessel operators wherever possible.

“The industry relies on a healthy Great Barrier Reef” she said.

Ecotourism Australia chief executive Kym Cheatham expressed similar sentiments, saying the “whole industry needs to worry about these things.”

“Nature is the most compelling aspect of our country. Our natural environment is the main driver for people to come here,” said Cheatham, “We all have a responsibility.”

Ecotourism Australia released earlier this week at ATE 2010 its Green Travel Guide Australia 2010/2011 which features more than 1000 Australian tourism experiences that offer responsible, ethical and sustainable tourism experiences.

“Environmentally responsible travel has huge potential for growth, as increasing numbers of domestic and international travellers choose ‘green’ holiday experiences.

“Ecotourism destinations now attract about 15% of the global tourist market and that number is climbing fast.”

Some 20 percent of tourism businesses exhibiting at ATE 2010 this year are eco-certified.
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Families looking for Eco-Friendly Travel

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More families want to get away on eco-friendly breaks, according to an expert, who believes that travel companies still need to be doing more to market low-carbon trips. Laura Greenman, director of Ecoescape, said that at the moment more people are trying to get away on family breaks which do not impact negatively on the surrounding environment.

“There are many great options for sustainable holidays” she stated.

Ms Greenman added that the tourism industry should always be looking for ways to offer green breaks and make this appealing to the mass market.

Over in Australia, the Samurai Beach Resort is leading the way in environmental sustainability.

The holiday resort is the first accommodation provider in the Hunter to be awarded an advanced Eco Tourism accreditation by Ecotourism Australia.

The accreditation is designed to act as a guide to assist travellers in selecting accommodation that is environmentally sustainable.

Manager Simon Beckett said the accreditation was proof the resort was heading in the right direction.

“We’re really proud of our environmental initiatives,” he said

“We like to think we are leading the charge in eco-friendly accommodation in this region and now we’ve got the certificate to prove it.”

The resort recently planted 275 swamp mahogany trees throughout the resort and adjoining wetlands to boost koala food stocks and also turned its lights off for two hours as part of Earth Hour. It’s reported that this resort is losing $13,000 per week, so we’ll see if these changes are long lasting or not.

-Robert Louis Miller

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Australia’s Great South Coast Penguins to be conserved

A PROPOSAL to allow guided tours to the the penguin colony at London Bridge, between Peterborough and Port Campbell, has alarmed local wildlife conservationists.

They claim the beach is too dangerous and further interference with the birds could harm their sustainability.

Parks Victoria will outline the plan to invited stakeholders at a meeting in Colac on January 12.

The meeting was called to discuss environmental risks associated with the coastal area.

Peterborough wildlife carer Annie Fraser has snubbed the invitation and will boycott the meeting that she descibed as offensive and insulting.

“It is dishonest and unfair that other people of the local area are not given an opportunity to speak up,” the long-time wildlife shelter volunteer said in a letter to Parks Victoria .

“I want no part of your so-called workshop which has obviously been conjured up to appease a few locals at a venue completely unrelated and at a time completely impossible for most persons to attend.

“The fact that this is an area of ‘special protection’ points to the complete disregard of Parks Victoria for anything we may hold dear as Victorians.”

According to the meeting agenda the main aims are to identify environmental hazards, priority risks for management and incorporate the views of stakeholders.

Another local conservationist said the proposed beach tours were not necessary because the evening penguin procession could be seen adequately from a clifftop viewing platform about 50 metres from the colony of fairy penguins at London Bridge.

The idea for guided tours down the steep steps was put forward about five years ago by Bridgewater eco-tours operator Joe Austin.

Mr Austin told The Standard yesterday he had not been invited to the meeting and expected that if Parks Victoria approved the concept it would be put out to public tender.

“This has been dragging on and on,” he said.

“We had a meeting on the beach with Parks Victoria two or three years ago and we met department chiefs in Melbourne in late 2008.”

Mr Austin said his proposal was to have the steps upgraded and have a lockable trapdoor built for access to the beach.

“A qualified guide would accompany a small group of people down to the beach, who would sit quietly on the beach to watch the penguins waddle past back to their burrows at night,” he said.

“Availability would be seasonal, depending on the ocean conditions,” he told The Standard.

“Guided penguin tours would encourage more tourists to stay overnight in the area.”

Mr Austin said it used to be quite common several decades ago for local residents and tourists to climb down to the beach and watch the evening penguin procession.

“The only reason why they stopped it was because of foxes and silly idiots who used to poke sticks down the burrows,” he said.

Mr Austin holds qualifications in eco-tourism and has been running his Seals by the Sea tour business at Cape Bridgewater for 12 years.

Mrs Fraser said the London Bridge beach was dangerous and had unpredictable tides.

“Where is the public consultation,” Mrs Fraser asked yesterday.

“Why is there not a public meeting?”

Australia’s Monarto Zoo to start new Eco-Tourism resort

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Monarto Zoo, east of Adelaide, is seeking private investors to help fund a new eco-tourism resort.

The zoo plans to offer visitors to the new facilities a wildlife experience similar to those provided by large African game parks.

“This presents a huge and exciting opportunity to do something totally new and authentic,” said Zoos SA chief executive Chris West.

“It will combine eco-tourism and have a direct conservation benefit by featuring African animals in a natural setting and providing space and resources to help save native Australian species from extinction.”

The Monarto Zoo recently acquired another 500 hectares of land so it could offer four-wheel drive safari tours in what is now the largest reserve outside Africa.

With the new development it will also offer overnight accommodation as well as a restaurant service.

South Australian Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith said there was a growing demand for the safari tourism experience.

“We want to make sure that the development and operation is of the highest quality and fills a market niche that has been previously untapped in Australia,” Dr Lomax-Smith said.

Opened in 1983, Monarto features a range of African species including giraffe, rhino, lion, cheetah, hunting dogs, hyena, antelope and zebra.