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BEST PRACTICE

Staff are rewarded with extra pay for choosing a healthy and environmentally sustainable way of getting to work.

Ziptrek Ecotours is working with Wakatipu Trails Trust, Vertigo Bikes and Queenstown Mountain Bike Club to promote local community recreational mountain bike trails.

Further information: http://www.ziptrek.com/queenstown-new-zealand/sustainability

Expressions of Interest are currently open for the commercial leasehold purchase of the Kimberley Coastal Camp, an exclusive wilderness retreat in the North Kimberley region of Western Australia.

The camp sits on a small peninsula, overlooking the abundant waters of the Timor Sea offering boating, fishing, walking trails, bird watching, with a backdrop of tranquil waters and virtually untouched vegetation.

Further Information: http://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/Investment_Opportunities
/Development_Opportunities/Pages/Kimberley_Coasta
l_ Camp_For_Sale_-_EOI.aspx

A white paper is being collated addressing how social media is being implemented and created in the Asia Pacific’s travel industry.

The research is being conducted via face-to-face interviews as well as online surveys. Researchers are calling on all tourism operators who utilise social media in their brand advertising to participate in an online survey.

A new research tool has been developed for use in the field with Indigenous people and other key informants to collect local stories for use in tourism enterprises and marketing; established a prototype Intellectual Property agreement for commercial tourism for the use of images, film and written accounts of local Indigenous stories in tourism.

Further information: http://www.crctourism.com.au/BookShop/BookDetail.aspx?d=692

CERTIFICATION

Travelocity’s Green Hotel Directory includes more than 700 hotels whose programs closely align with the Tourism Sustainability Council baseline criteria and green hotel certifiers including Green Seal, Green Key Global, Audubon Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program and the Rainforest Alliance. These provide a common understanding of sustainable tourism and focus on maximising tourism’s social and economic benefits to local communities.

Further information: http://www.travelocity.com/TravelForGood/gr-directory.html

The scheme promotes environmentally responsible camping and requires vehicles to be self-contained at campsites.

It is a major milestone in the Club’s efforts of demonstrating to Councils and other authorities that self-contained vehicles need not have a negative impact on the environment. The Code of Conduct outlines appropriate waste disposal and obligations to financially support local communities through the purchase of food, fuel and supplies where possible.

Further information:
http://www.cmca.net.au/pages/motorhoming_information/environmental_issues/leave_no_trace/index.php

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway has won the Qantas Australian Tourism Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism for a second consecutive year.

As Australia’s most sustainable tourism attraction Skyrail is committed to providing leadership in best practice and sustainable operations which aim to achieve the United Nations charter of protecting, presenting and preserving the Wet Tropics Rainforests for future generations

The founder of The International Ecotourism Society, Megan Epler Wood has initiated a new short-course at the University of Vermont from 12-16 July 2010.

The Global Sustainable Ecotourism Development course is being launched in honour of the 20th anniversary of The International Ecotourism Society and will look at the big picture of impacts and approaches to delivering low impact tourism development.

It will teach a holistic approach to planning and tourism development that reviews bioregional planning as a key tool for governments and international donors.

Further information: http://learn.uvm.edu/ecotourism

With a budget of $450 million, Virgin Galactic is set to construct six commercial spaceships that will boost passengers into space long enough so that they experience weightlessness before returning to earth.

Further information: http://www.virgingalactic.com

A comprehensive guide to crisis management has been produced by Tourism Victoria to assist the Victorian tourism industry.

Open for Business: Crisis Management for Tourism Businesses has been developed to better equip tourism operators to prepare for, respond to and recover from crises such as bushfire, drought and floods.

The online tool provides tips and case studies designed to complement the Crisis Communications Handbook for Regional and Local Tourism.

Further information:
http://www.tourism.vic.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=424&Itemid=2528

The Auteurs hand-picked collection has an emphasis on international, foreign and classic films.

Further information: http://www.designhotels.com/specials/hotelcinematheque

RESEARCH

A few minutes of your time can help shape our tourism industry over the next 10 years, putting you in the running to WIN a 2 night holiday at Kingfisher Bay Resort (pictured opposite) on the beautiful Fraser Island including catamaran transfers from Hervey Bay!!

Tourism Futures, in conjunction with Roy Morgan Research, is conducting a short survey addressing the major challenges facing the Australian tourism industry, as well as ways to maximise sustainable growth in this industry.

Results will be incorporated into the Tourism Futures National Conference 2010 from 5 - 7 July 2010.

To participate in this valuable research visit: http://www.surveys.roymorgan.com/surveys/916314/

Prepared by Access Economics for Tourism Western Australia, the Perth Hotel Economic Impact Study highlights the current shortage of hotel accommodation in the city’s Central Business District.

Key findings analyse the economic impacts of hotel room shortage on business and leisure activity.

Further information: http://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/Research_and_Statistics/
Pages/Perth_Hotel_Economic_Impact_Study_by_Access_Economics.aspx

The WTM Global Trends Report 2009 identifies the current trends resonating with travellers across all regions including the desire for environmental responsibility, social interaction, authentic travel experiences and fair trade practices. Developed in association with global market intelligence firm Euromonitor International.

Further information: http://www.wtmlondon.com/files/3419_wtm_global_trends_report_v6_lores_v2.pdf

More than 200 volunteers including tourism operators, fishers, researchers, and recreational reef users record signs of coral stress as part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's BleachWatch Program.

Reports received from BleachWatch volunteers provide essential information about trends in Reef health and climate impacts that validate predictive models, satellite data and enable managers to identify highly impacted areas so management strategies can be implemented.

Leading tour operator Auswalk have just launched a guided walking holiday along the Great South West Walk a 250km circuit track along the Victorian coast near the border with South Australia.

The seven-day walk starts in Tower Hill, just near Port Fairy and then takes in selected scenic highlights including coastal scenery and forests rich with wildlife.

Further information: http://www.auswalk.com.au/

Ecotourism Australia and its subsidiary Sustainable Tourism Australia have proclaimed 2010 the Year for Responsible, Ethical and Sustainable Tourism.

In line with Ecotourism Australia’s mission it is both the continuation of nearly two decades of supporting and advocating for environmentally and socially responsible tourism and the starting point of a new strategy.

The main goal of the year will be to demonstrate the benefits of responsible, ethical and sustainable tourism in Australia through a number of activities.

Further information: http://www.ecotourism.org.au/

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

Tourism Futures is the premier national conference for the tourism industry, attended by key government policy makers, regional development professionals, aviation and tourism industry operators and academics.

The agenda is forward looking and will encompass the technology, online marketing, workforce development, sustainability and Indigenous tourism, alongside other key policy areas.

Registration and conference details can be found at www.tourismfutures.com.au

Global Eco brings together leading players from across the globe to examine best practice across sustainability, ecotourism and climate change response. Critical new research, policy and best practice case studies feature at Global Eco.

You are invited to offer a paper for presentation on Day 1 or Day 3 of the Global Eco Conference 2010 - a fantastic opportunity to bring your knowledge to the industry and gain exposure. Deadline for call for papers is Friday 7th May.

Play your part in driving sustainability for the global tourism industry!

For more information or to submit a paper please visit www.globaleco.com.au

The fourth International Conference on Sustainable Tourism will be held in New Forest, UK from 5-7 July 2010.

The conference will explore issues concerned with achieving environmental, social and economic sustainability alongside the governance mechanisms needed to support tourism.

Further information: http://www.wessex.ac.uk/10-
conferences/sustainable-tourism-2010.html

The Australian Regional Tourism Convention will celebrate its tenth anniversary in the Yarra Valley & Dandenong region of Victoria from 16-20 August 2010.

The convention is the premier regional tourism event attracting delegates from all states/territories and sectors of the industry. The program will feature presenters, field trips and networking opportunities.

Further information: http://www.regionaltourism.com.au/ARTN/convention.html

The conference will present a range of plenary and concurrent sessions, keynote speakers and practical workshops that will showcase and explore the strategies designed to achieve and maintain sustainable wildlife tourism.

Further information: http://wildlifetourism.org.au/2010-conference/

The Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference will be held in Oregon, USA from 8-10 September 2010.

The conference will feature innovative sessions on the latest on sustainable tools, solutions and best practice ideas.

It is expected 500+ tourism professionals, experts, business leaders and policy makers from across the industry will attend.