Tourism Report

TOURISM REPORT Eco-certified tourism destinations get state government backing

Grants are to be given to councils and regional and local tourism organisations who strive to attain Ecotourism Australia or EarthCheck destination-level certification.

Minister for Tourism, Innovation and Sport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics and Paralympics Sport and Engagement, The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe has announced that the Queensland Government will be investing $1 million to support the State’s position as a leader in sustainable tourism by supporting our tourism destinations to gain globally recognised certification. He said the Eco-certified Tourism Destination Program will provide grants to councils and regional and local tourism organisations to support attainment of either Ecotourism Australia or EarthCheck destination-level certification. “This program offers grant funding up to $150,000 for activities directly associated with achieving certification.” The destination certification aims to provide a wide range of benefits including improved sustainable practices, position destinations as low carbon and climate resilient, and be responsive to changing visitor needs. Minister Hinchcliffe said: “The Eco-certified Tourism Destination Program underpins our government’s vision to become a leader in sustainable tourism and will leverage the growth potential in nature-based tourism experiences to support good jobs and deliver better services. “Most importantly, it supports actions to achieve a Climate Positive Olympics in 2032 and the target of net zero emissions by 2050. “The program is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s response to the independent Tourism Industry Reference Panel’s final Action Plan titled Towards 2032: Reshaping Queensland’s Visitor Economy to welcome the world.

“In the Towards 2032 plan, the Panel recommended investing now in sustainability measures to avoid the need for expensive intervention and regulation later. It also meets a growing customer demand for low-impact travel which is fast becoming an expectation.” Ecotourism Australia Chief Executive Officer Elissa Keenan commended the Queensland Government for its commitment to help more destinations become sustainable.

“We know visitors, now more than ever, are looking for sustainable tourism experiences,” Ms Keenan said. “We know when regions commit to an ECO Destination Certification process, they are committing to ongoing sustainable practices and continuously improving their actions, the provision of high-quality nature-based experiences in the region, and are focused on improving the environmental, social, cultural and financial outcomes for their local community.”

© Jesper van der Pol - unsplash.com Mr Stewart Moore, Chief Executive Officer, EarthCheck said: “Certification helps bring all your resources, efforts and data together to measure and track your destination’s health, promote continuous improvement and deliver better outcomes for your residents and visitors.”

Minister Hinchliffe said there was growing momentum around Australia for tourism destinations to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.

“Port Douglas-Daintree was Australia’s first location to obtain ECO Destination certification and a number of other Queensland destinations including the Scenic Rim, Bundaberg, Cassowary Coast and Townsville are working through the process.”

Grant funding of $50 000 up to $150 000 will be available to cover eligible activity costs associated with the certification process, with no matched funding requirements from applicants.

Program applications opened on August 18 and close on Friday October 7, 2022. Successful applicants are expected to be announced in late 2022.

For further information please visit the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport website at www.dtis.qld.gov. au.in key global markets.”

© Mark Nugent - unsplash.com

Daniel Gschwind is a gift for Griffi th tourism

Queensland tourism heavyweight Daniel Gschwind has joined Griffi th Institute for Tourism (GIFT) as a Professor of Practice.

The highly respected Mr Gschwind was the CEO of Queensland Tourism Industry Council for 21 years before passing on the reigns earlier this year. On announcing the appointment, GIFT Director Associate Professor Sarah Gardiner said: “We are enormously excited to welcome Daniel on board.

“Daniel played such a leadership role guiding the tourism industry through the pandemic and there are a lot of lessons to learn from him in terms of building resilience for future challenges. “He has so much experience in the tourism industry and we look forward to him sharing his wisdom with the next generation of tourism researchers.”

Griffi th’s Hospitality and Tourism Management subjects recently ranked number one in Australia and third globally in the prestigious Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022. Associate Professor Gardiner said Gschwind’s involvement in GIFT would improve connectivity between the academic and practical worlds. “Daniel is going to help us make sure our research remains practically relevant, and also further strengthen our relationships with the industry, including government, business and other associations,” she said. “He will also help us understand how to create legacies tied to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Gschwind’s impressive CV also includes six years as Australian Tourism Industry Council Deputy Chair, seven years as Australian Tourism Awards Chair, current board member of Tourism Whitsundays, 15 years as a Surf Life Saving Queensland Vice Patron and he has been the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s tourism reef advisory committ ee chair since January 2020.

Daniel Gschwind

Damian Quinn

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