Ecotourism Australia has recognised over 40 tourism operators as Green Travel Leaders as part of the Year of Responsible Ethical and Sustainable Tourism.

(TRAVPR.COM) AUSTRALIA - 9th April 2010 - Ecotourism Australia has recognised over 40 tourism operators as Green Travel Leaders as part of the Year of Responsible Ethical and Sustainable Tourism.

“These companies are trail blazers in responsible travel having being ECO certified for 10 years or more.” Ecotourism Australia CEO, Ms Kym Cheatham said. ”Long before most people were thinking about green issues, these businesses saw the importance of the environment to tourism and wanted to ensure they behaved in a responsible ethical and sustainable way.”

Ecotourism Australia introduced the world first ECO certification program in 1996 and now has more than 1000 tourism products certified through their programs.

"We are very proud of our achievements, with both Tropic Wings Coach Tours and The Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary being recognised as Green Travel Leaders. This status acknowledges our long standing commitment to providing ecologically sustainable tourism in the Wet Tropics region of Tropical North Queensland, and the established eco-committee across our group of companies will continue working on new initiatives throughout this Year of Responsible, Ethical and Sustainable Tourism" said Ben Woodward from North Queensland tourism operator The CaPTA Group.

Ecotourism Australia has declared 2010 the Year of Responsible Ethical and Sustainable Tourism as a way to put the spotlight firmly on the tourism businesses that want to protect and sustain one of Australia’s key assets as a tourism destination, its national environment.

“The recently launched National Long Term Tourism Strategy correctly identified that Climate Change is the primary challenge facing the tourism industry,” Ms Cheatham said. “As the strategy recognises, Australia’s natural environment is a significant part of Australia’s appeal as a travel destination. “

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.”

A full list of the Green Travel Leaders is below.

For more information contact:
Kym Cheatham, Chief Executive Officer, Ecotourism Australia
E: ceo@ecotourism.org.au, M: 0427 279 414
www.ecotourism.org.au www.sustainabletourismaustralia.com
Araucaria Ecotours QLD
Billabong Sanctuary & Bungalow Bay Koala Village QLD
Billy Tea Bush Safaris QLD
Broken River Mountain Retreat QLD
Canopy Rainforest Tree Houses & Wildlife Sanctuary QLD
Capricorn Caves QLD
Cooper Creek Wilderness QLD
Couran Cove Island Resort QLD
Cruise Maroochy Eco Tours QLD
Daintree Discovery Centre QLD
Daintree River Cruise Centre QLD
Downunder Tours QLD
Exceptional Kangaroo Island SA
Fantasea Cruises QLD
Far Out Adventures NT
Foaming Fury QLD
Gippsland High Country Tours VIC
Grampians Personalised Tours and Adventures VIC
Imagine Cruises - Port Stephens NSW
Jemby-Rinjah Lodge NSW
Kanimbla View Clifftop Retreat NSW
Kingfisher Cruises VIC
Low Isles Sailaway QLD
Mantaray Charters QLD
Marine Discovery Centre VIC
Midginbil Hill Country Resort NSW
Monkey Mia Wildsights – Wildlife Sailing Cruises WA
Moonshadow Cruises NSW
Noosa Everglades Discovery QLD
Ocean Rafting QLD
O'Reilly's Rainforest Guesthouse QLD
Paperbark Camp NSW
Silky Oaks Lodge & Healing Waters Spa QLD
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway QLD
Tamboi Queen Cruises NSW
The Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary QLD
Tread Lightly Eco Tours NSW
Tropic Wings Coach Tours QLD
Undara Experience QLD
Wavelength Eco Snorkelling QLD
Whalesong Cruises Pty Ltd QLD
Wooroonooran Safaris QLD
Yelverton Brook Eco Spa Retreat & Conservation Sanctuary WA

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