Bundaberg Region ECO Destination Certification

The Bundaberg Region has been listed among the top 100 sustainable destinations in the world for 2021 in recognition of work carried out to reduce urban glow.

It means the Bundaberg Region will now be featured by Green Destinations in its 2021 Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories alongside other leading cities and regions throughout the globe.

The stories are an annual selection of destinations demonstrating innovative and effective good practice to be shared as inspirational examples to other destinations, tour operators and international visitors.

The recognition is a boon for the region with Bundaberg Regional Council working with regional stakeholders and tourism operators to seek eco destination certification.

Bundaberg Regional Council’s submission to Green Destinations highlighted the work undertaken as part of the Reducing Urban Glow project.

The project’s aim was to use smart technology to measure urban lighting levels and make that data available to the community to reduce the negative impact of lighting on both nesting and hatchling marine turtles.

Top 100 evaluators provided their comments on the Bundaberg Region’s submission, commending the community collaboration that took place to make the project possible.

“This story stood out because it is not only addressing a serious problem – how light pollution endangers the hatching rituals of sea turtles – but it also involves various stakeholders and partners to collaborate in the project and work together to reach their goal,” one of the evaluators said.

“The destination stands out for their successful conservation strategy to protect sea turtles by using both traditional and high-tech methods,” another top 100 evaluator said.

“Furthermore, they effectively engaged the local community in the conservation project and created strong local support for the measures taken in and around the destination.”

Mayor Jack Dempsey welcomed the announcement that the Bundaberg Region had made the top 100 and been recognised among the best green destinations in the world.

“Simply put, the Bundaberg Region is a naturally diverse and naturally beautiful location,” Mayor Dempsey said.

“As a Council we are passionate about preserving and protecting that beauty while promoting it to the world.

“By attaining destination certification, we will not only have a positive impact on the environment, we’ll support our local economy by boosting visitor numbers to the region.

“Being recognised in the world’s top 100 sustainable destinations is a great first step towards achieving this status.”

Bundaberg Regional Council was also invited to speak at the Green Destinations Online Conference following the announcement of the top 100 sustainable destinations.

Read the Bundaberg Now story here.

PHOTO: Mon Repos Turtle Encounter, Bundaberg Credit: Jesse Linderman via Tourism Events Queensland and Bundaberg Tourism

Bundaberg Regional Council will subsidise the first annual fee for local tourism operators willing to seek eco certification

Local tourism operators looking to tap into the billion-dollar ecotourism industry are being given a helping hand through Bundaberg Regional Council’s Eco Certification Incentive Scheme.

The policy offers eligible tourism operators within the Bundaberg Regional Council area, who wish to become ECO Certified through Ecotourism Australia, a 50 per cent subsidy on the first annual certification fee.

Mayor Jack Dempsey said eco certification was one of Council’s advocacy priorities and had the potential to grow local visitation rates.

“Ecotourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of global tourism and when you live in a region as naturally diverse and stunning as ours, it just makes sense,” Mayor Dempsey said.

“By attaining destination certification, we will not only have a positive impact on the environment, we’ll support our local economy by boosting visitor numbers to the region.

“For local tourism operators becoming eco certified is a significant commitment so Council wants to support them through this process.

“The Eco Certification Incentive Scheme is one of the ways we are offering that support.”

In addition to the cash subsidy, Council’s incentive scheme will offer promotional benefits to eco certified businesses and will see them included in an established network of authentic and sustainable visitor experiences.

Bundaberg Tourism also showcases eco certified businesses through its website including sustainable travel itineraries.

According to Tourism and Event Queensland’s recent Nature Based Tourism strategy, the sector is a significant contributor to the state visitor economy, with pre-COVID estimates placing the value to the economy at $5 billion per year.

The strategy also credit sustainable tourism practices as leading the way in post-COVID recovery for domestic travel.

Bundaberg Tourism CEO Katherine Reid encouraged eligible operators to seek certification and take advantage of the Eco Certification Incentive Scheme.

“The eco certification is for tourism products with a primary focus on nature (tours, accommodation, attractions),” Ms Reid said.

“It assures travellers that certified products are backed by a strong, well-managed commitment to sustainable practices and provides high quality nature-based tourism experiences.

“Having completed several submissions myself for nature-based tourism experiences over the years, it is quite extensive, but the benefits of the program and the commitment to sustainable practises, far outweighs the work!

“This accreditation program can be transformative for your business and your visitor experience, with a holistic look at how your operation connects, contributes and celebrates the surrounding environment and community that it supports.”

She said local businesses should explore either the eco certification or the climate action certification.

“I also congratulate Bundaberg Regional Council for taking the challenge head on with their commitment towards ECO Destination accreditation and hope that real, authentic change is implemented across the region for the future of our people, place and planet.”

To be eligible for eco certification, the tourism operator’s customer activity time must be spent within a natural area or with a focus on the natural or cultural values of the area.

Eligibility criteria for local operators to seek eco certification:

The tourism operator’s customers activity time must be spent within a natural area or with a focus on the natural or cultural values of the area.

The products to be certified will help customers to directly and personally experience nature in a sustainable manner.

All necessary licences, permits and approvals are obtained from relevant authorities and agencies.

The tourism operator consistently meets customer service expectations and has defined customer service procedures and is committed to delivery of a quality tourism experience.

Economic, social and environmental sustainability principles are core to the operation of the business.

More information on eligibility for eco certification is available through Ecotourism Australia’s ECO Essentials Guide.

For more information about the benefits of eco certification or how to access the associated benefits, head to the project page or contact Council’s Eco Tourism Officer on 1300 883 699.

Read the full Bundaberg Now story here.

Nature-based tourism operators in the Bundaberg Region are being given a boost through a new collaboration which will see eco-certified businesses receive extra benefits.

This month long-term industry partners Ecotourism Australia (EA) and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) entered into an agreement to cross-recognise each other’s certification programs.

EA certifies Australian nature-based tourism operators and destinations through its ECO, Respecting our Culture, Climate Action and destination certification programs.

QTIC certifies Queensland-based tourism businesses through the national Quality Tourism Accreditation program (QTAB).

Thanks to the new agreement, Ecotourism Australia’s over 200 certified operators in Queensland will receive all the benefits of the Quality Tourism Accreditation program.

These benefits include licencing to use the nationally recognised Quality Tourism Accreditation branding, access to their own ReviewPro online reputation management dashboard and automatic eligibility for the Queensland Tourism Awards.

Operators will also only be charged one, unchanged fee and be subject to a single, triennial audit.

Mayor Jack Dempsey said this new agreement provided even more incentive for local tourism operators to have their eco credentials formally recognised.

“We already know the Bundaberg Region is home to some of the best nature-based tourism experiences in the world,” Mayor Dempsey said.

“Eco destination certification is an important goal the Bundaberg Region is working towards and the more individual operators and experiences that come on board, the stronger our case will be.

“We are so blessed here in the Bundaberg Region with a wide variety of natural wonders which also means there are countless tourism operators and initiatives that would meet the requirements of being eco certified.”

Chair of Ecotourism Australia Dr Claire Ellis praised the agreement, saying it was a logical evolution of the organisations’ long-standing relationship.

“Our industry relies on strong partnerships and now, more than ever before, it is vital we work together for the benefit of our operators and the industry more broadly,” Dr Ellis said.

“This will not only make businesses stronger and save them money but enable ourselves and QTIC to provide more integrated support as we work towards the sustainable recovery of our industry.”

QTIC Chair Shane O’Reilly is also Managing Director of O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, an Ecotourism Australia Hall of Fame entrant.

He said the agreement was a solid reflection of how both organisations focused on members, their future sustainability and viability and engaged them in ways to make their members more robust, and more resilient.

“While this will eventually strengthen both EA and QTIC as well, it is [the organisations’] focus on their members rather than themselves which makes this sharing of benefits such a special initiative,” Mr O’Reilly said.

“Tourism businesses need this type of initiative and grounded support and I encourage others in the political arena to take notice.”

https://www.bundabergnow.com/2021/05/03/major-queensland-tourism-industry-bodies-collaborate/