Queensland Ecotourism Plan 2003-2008 - Tourism Queensland

The broader tourism industry has an important role to play in the development and success of
Queensland’s ecotourism sector. There are mutual advantages for the tourism industry as a
whole to embrace the ecotourism sector in Queensland and work with ecotourism operators
where possible to package ecotourism activities into Queensland holidays. The broader tourism
industry will benefit from the best practice developed by the ecotourism sector through the
adoption of sustainable technologies and management systems. Regional and Local Tourism
Organisations and the travel trade have a key role to play in recommending genuine and high
quality ecotourism products as recognised by relevant certification and accreditation programs.
Ecotourism industry
The Queensland ecotourism industry includes ecotourism operators and relevant industry
associations. It is the role of the industry to:
• provide high quality ecotourism experiences and support services;
• contribute to the conservation and management of natural areas;
• respect the rights and needs of local communities;
• encourage and apply cultural and ecologically sustainable development principles and best
practice;
• promote and represent the interests of operators and their clients;
• ensure staff are properly trained and educated;
• provide a central source of trend and marketing information for operators;
• provide industry advice on business practices and environmental education and
interpretation;
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• develop and implement industry codes of practice and policies;
• undertake research into and disseminate findings on ecologically sustainable development;
• develop visitor and local community environmental awareness; and,
• work in partnership with governments in the formulation of relevant policies and programs.
Visitors
Visitors seeking ecotourism experiences are the reason why there is an ecotourism market.
Ecotourism may be their primary reason for visiting Queensland or one element of a set of
multifaceted motivations. Visitors’ roles include:
• participating in ecotourism activities;
• making informed decisions to purchase responsible tourism operations and products;
• contributing to conservation management directly or indirectly;
• being involved in the development and management of ecotourism by making known their
preferences and participating in surveys and providing feedback on the quality and
satisfaction of ecotourism products;
• adhering to appropriate visitor codes of practice and contributing to the protection of the
natural, cultural and social environment and the enjoyment and learning experiences of
other visitors;
• using skills and knowledge gained from their ecotourism experiences to minimise their
impact on the environment in general; and,