Sustainable tourism

By balancing economic prosperity alongside the needs of protecting our environment, culture and communities, sustainable tourism ensures Australia’s natural wonders, cultures and communities can be enjoyed by future generations.

Research shows there is a growing traveller demand for experiences that deliver positive social and environmental impact. Tourism Australia’s Consumer Demand Project (CDP) research of international holiday makers shows that sustainability is increasingly important to travellers, both in their everyday lives (77 per cent) and in the way they choose to travel (70 per cent).

There is also a continued demand for sustainable practices amongst international business events decision makers. Tourism Australia’s Business Events CDP research shows that three out of four incentive decision makers (76 per cent) rank sustainability credentials as a significant driver of destination choice, while 83 per cent of association organisations already have sustainability credentials and practices in place. 

Resources for tourism operators

Starting your journey

The National Sustainability Framework for the Visitor Economy and Sustainable Tourism Toolkit have been jointly developed by the Australian Government, and State and Territory governments. These resources, designed specifically for the visitor economy, seek to bring participants together behind a consistent approach to sustainable tourism in Australia.

• National Sustainability Framework for the Visitor Economy
  The Framework, the first of its kind for Australian tourism, provides a nationally agreed understanding of sustainable tourism and a vision for Australia to be a world leader in sustainable tourism.
• Sustainable Tourism Toolkit
  The Sustainable Tourism Toolkit provides practical guidance to help tourism businesses implement sustainable practices across the four pillars of sustainability outlined in the Framework.

Get assessed, accredited or certified

For businesses already implementing sustainability practices, you may consider undertaking formal training or seeking formal recognition by getting accredited or certified. There are many accreditation and certification schemes available to tourism businesses in Australia, along with pre-certification benchmarking tools. These programs can be either designed specifically for tourism businesses, or available to business across many industries.

Tourism-specific programs

• The Australian Tourism Industry Council’s Sustainable Tourism Accreditation and Emissions Reduction Program is for small, medium and regional tourism businesses. The programs have been updated to reflect the National Sustainability Framework.
• Ecotourism Australia’s Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard pathway program is designed for tourism businesses looking to take their first steps towards measuring their sustainability efforts.
• Globally recognised specialist sustainability certification programs in Australia include EarthCheck and Ecotourism Australia, who both offer multiple certifications tailored to various business types and needs.

Other sustainability programs

• Other sustainability certification programs include standards for sustainable architecture and building design, such as NABERS, and cross-sector initiatives like B Corp. There are also environmental and climate action certifications, such as Climate Active, while ISO standards cover a broad range of areas including quality, energy management systems and sustainable events.