Ecotourism Australia recognised for Sustainable Tourism leadership

September 10, 2024

Environment / Hospitality / Tourism /

Ecotourism Australia has been formally recognised by Travalyst, a global initiative dedicated to providing sustainability information to enable travellers in making more informed and responsible choices.

Following independent review, both Ecotourism Australia’s ECO and Sustainable Tourism Certifications will be included in Travalyst’s list of compliant sustainability certifications for accommodation providers.

This initiative supports credible certifications through the evolving legislative landscape whilst providing consistency across travel booking platforms.

Joining 49 other organisations worldwide, this recognition underscores Ecotourism Australia’s global standing as a recognised and credible sustainable tourism certification body.

Ecotourism Australia CEO, Elissa Keenan noted “Being formally recognised by Travalyst for our ECO and Sustainable Tourism Certification standards is a testament to the dedication we have put into developing our global best-practice standards, including developing the world’s first national ecotourism certification, and our tourism operators who have undertaken our certification program.

“We focus on driving continuous improvement and ensuring our ECO and Sustainable Tourism Certifications continue to be recognised globally. We are pleased to be part of this global movement making sustainability information more accessible to the tourism industry.”

Travalyst partners with leading brands like Booking.com, Amadeus, Expedia Group, Google, Mastercard, Sabre, Skyscanner, Travelport, Trip.com Group and Visa to integrate sustainability information into mainstream platforms, empowering travellers to make informed decisions.

Keenan added “this association enhances global visibility for our Certified operators, helping them build trust with eco-conscious consumers and connecting them with a growing audience of responsible travellers.’

This collaborative approach is key to mainstreaming sustainable travel solutions across the tourism industry and addressing the growing demand for sustainable travel. According to Booking. com 76% of travellers want to travel more sustainably over the coming year, however almost half of these travellers (44%), say they do not know how to find or book a sustainable tourism experience. Expedia Group report notes 7 out of 10 feel overwhelmed by where to start.

Travalyst is a not-for-profit coalition, founded in 2019 by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, of some of the biggest brands in travel and technology including Amadeus, Booking.com, Expedia Group, Google, Mastercard, Sabre, Skyscanner, Travelport, Trip.com Group and Visa. The coalition works pre-competitively to bring sustainability information to the mainstream to help people make more informed travel choices.

Ecotourism Australia has more than 200 Certified accommodation providers holding ECO or Sustainable Tourism Certification and a further 200 accommodation providers currently undergoing certification.

Discover Ecotourism Australia’s certified accommodations and experiences in the Green Travel Guide.

Image. The Johnson Brisbane - Art Series Hotel pool with deck chairs surrounding the edge. Credit: Accor Pacific.

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6th May 2023 - Six Queensland ecotourism projects to share in $9.2 million state government funding

6th May 2023 - Ecotourism Australia encouraged by sustainable tourism demand at ATE23

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20th March 2023 - Ecotourism Australia certified businesses secure Qantas Australian Tourism Awards

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