Sustainable Travel Hub Launched

MARK OLSEN

: (07) 4015 1201

: ceo@ttnq.org.au

Travellers can easily find interactive conservation projects, immersive cultural experiences and eco-certified operators with the launch of the Tropical North Queensland Sustainable Travel Hub.

The dedicated hub on the Tropical North Queensland destination website will enable people to travel with greater purpose in the only destination where two natural World Heritage areas meet.

The Tropical North Queensland Sustainable Travel Hub will help travellers to understand the value our region places on the environment and our community through various resources including blogs and a destination video that highlights our promise for greater good.

Consumers are increasingly concerned about the impact of climate change, which has resulted in people travelling more thoughtfully and with more intent. There is also growing consumer interest for tourism to be more than sustainable – it should be restorative, reconciliatory and ultimately regenerative.

Sustainability has been a way of life for Tropical North Queensland’s tourism operators who deliver the most eco-certified experiences in Australia and have achieved a number of milestones including the Douglas Shire becoming the world’s first Eco Certified Destination.

Almost one-third of Ecotourism Australia’s Hall of Fame products – those that have held certification for more than 20 years – are from Tropical North Queensland, demonstrating that our operators are early pioneers of eco certification.

Tropical North Queensland has the highest concentration of eco-certified tourism operators in Australia, with 182 experiences and 62 companies certified.

Many of our operators are well advanced on this journey. Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, for example, was the first tourism operator in the world to achieve

EarthCheck Master Certification and is one of less than 10 EarthCheck Masters on the planet.

Others such as Experience Co’s Reef Unlimited and GBR Biology have pioneered the addition of Indigenous culture into a Great Barrier Reef experience by working with local Traditional Owners to include their knowledge in cultural presentations and reef stewardship activities.

We need to continue our forward momentum by educating the public about travelling thoughtfully in our destination and ensuring the eco standards of our operators are among the best in the world.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland’s promise for greater good is about continually improving as an industry and as a region. Sustainability is not just about the environment and the journey towards Net Zero, it is also about giving back to our community.

We are bringing the tourism industry onboard with the Pathway to Sustainable Tourism Toolkit which will help our operators to adopt sustainable business practices, measure their footprint, and plan their journey forward for the greater good.

The toolkit outlines certification programs, community initiatives to partner with, including Rainforest Rescue and Green Caffeen and discusses Tourism Tropical North Queensland’s sustainability journey which includes working with Reforest to offset events.

Ultimately we want our whole community to join us on our promise of greater good so that Tropical North Queensland stands out not only as the place where two natural World Heritage areas meet, but as the destination for travellers seeking experiences that are restorative, reconciliatory and ultimately regenerative.

For more information go to: cairnsgreatbarrierreef.com/ sustainable-travel