AusLeisure

Cairns reef operator Passions of Paradise has won Ecotourism Australia's 2013 Innovation in Ecotourism Award, announced at the Global Eco Conference in Noosa yesterday evening (18th November).

The locally owned company specialises in personalised snorkelling, diving and sailing adventures on the Great Barrier Reef visiting both Michaelmas Cay and exclusive Paradise Reef in a day.

Passions of Paradise Sales and Marketing Manager Adam O'Malley said the company had won the award by taking innovative steps to not only protect the Great Barrier Reef, but educate passengers about its ecological value.

A delighted O'Malley stated "we operate in a World Heritage area so we continually strive to protect this amazing ecosystem and make sure our passengers go away as ambassadors armed with the knowledge about what makes our reef so special.

"Passions of Paradise has a reputation for giving people a fun adventure on the Great Barrier Reef so we have created environmental programs reflecting that philosophy.

"This includes sailing home from the Great Barrier Reef to reduce fuel consumption and introducing the National Geographic Diver Program to allow passengers to be a scientist for a day by joining a research project documenting the corals and fish they see.

"More than 100,000 passengers have been introduced to the role sharks play in the environment through our Save a Shark program which has raised $25,000 for student research into sharks.

"As a result of the many steps we have taken to reduce our footprint on the planet, Passions of Paradise has become one of 13 companies in Australia to be awarded Climate Action Leader status from Ecotourism Australia."

Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Rob Giason congratulated Passions of Paradise saying it was wonderful to see Australia's peak ecotourism award going to Tropical North Queensland for the third year in a row.

Giason added "we have three World Heritage areas within our region with two declared as National Landscapes and we care for these precious ecosystems with the highest proportion of eco-accredited operators in Australia.

"Tropical North Queensland is all about nature-based activities and our innovative tourism industry delivers more than 600 daily tours offering an insight into the land, sea, native wildlife and Indigenous culture.

"Included in this is an incredible 100 different ways to experience the Great Barrier Reef with memorable adventures like swimming with minke whales, diving for citizen science and witnessing the annual coral spawn."

For more information go to www.passions.com.au/

Image: Snorkelling on Michaelmas Cay. 

5th September 2013 - CAIRNS AND THE GREAT BARRIER REEF DRIVES NATIONAL TOURISM GROWTH

4th February 2013 - NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE FOR ECOTOURISM AUSTRALIA

3rd June 2013 - CAIRNS TOURISM TECHNOLOGY ON SHOW TO AUSTRALIA 

30th March 2012 - UN POWERLESS TO FORCE REEF PROTECTION

23rd January 2012 - PROPOSED NEW DIVE AND SNORKEL LAWS TO ENSURE SAFETY

10th November 2011 - GREAT BARRIER REEF TOURISM OPERATORS RECOGNISED FOR GOING THE EXTRA MILE

17th August 2009 - REEF TOURISM STRATEGY TO TACKLE A CHANGING CLIMATE

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.