Eco-Tourism Certification Program

Whitsunday Tourism promotes sustainable tourism practices. The annual tourism awards include categories on sustainability and look to encourage operators in the region to conserve the reef for future generations.   Some organisations are gaining ecotourism certifications.   Ecotourism can be defined as ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.

In October 2017, 28 operators in the Whitsunday Region were Ecotourism Certified through the ECO Certification program of Eco Tourism Australia (https://www.ecotourism.org.au/) with 12 of these businesses actually achieving Advanced Ecotourism Certification. The ECO Certification program assures travellers that certified products are backed by a strong, well managed commitment to sustainable practices and provides high quality nature-based tourism experiences.  The ECO Certification Program is a world first and it has been developed to address the need to identify genuine nature and ecotourism operators. Operators are audited regularly and often seek to achieve higher certifications to become High Standard Operators listed with the GBRMPA.

In October 2017, four businesses in the Whitsundays were certified “Climate Action Businesses” and two as “Climate Action Innovators”.   The Climate Action Certification program is dedicated to reducing carbon emissions and assuring travellers that certified products are backed by a commitment to sustainable practices related to addressing climate change.