Sustainable Tourism
Tourism Australia (TA) is the Australian Government agency responsible for growing demand for Australia as a tourism destination, both in Australia and overseas. Our corporate purpose, as laid down in the Tourism Australia Act 2004, is to grow demand and foster a competitive and sustainable tourism industry.
All our activities support our vision of being the most desirable and memorable destination on earth. In striving to achieve this ambitious goal, we are conscious of the importance of respecting and protecting the communities, cultures and lands that are so central to Australia’s destination appeal.
Our Commitment to Sustainable Tourism
Driving awareness of, and capability for a sustainable industry is a defined strategic priority for TA and enshrined within our corporate values.
Our principles
Our approach is shaped by the following principles:
- We keep our own house in order in living by our employee value: We Do The Right Thing.
- We honour our First Nations people from whom we have much to learn.
- We support others in our industry in adopting practises to operate more sustainably, with positive impact on our land, people and culture.
- We provide a voice for sustainability in our industry: a voice of advocacy and education.
- We prioritise doing business with those in our industry who support sustainability.
- We promote and share tourism stories that inspire sustainability.
- We partner with like-minded organisations to increase our impact and reach.
Planet, profit and people
For TA, sustainable tourism includes protecting and restoring our natural environment, helping to conserve Australia’s natural wonders and cultures, so they can be enjoyed today and by future generations. It also means fostering a profitable industry that delivers employment opportunities and economic benefits to communities, and in turn helps improve the tourism experience for our travellers and the quality of life for Australians.
Advocacy and education
As the National Tourism Organisation, TA has an important role to play in championing and elevating the importance, and the appeal, of sustainable tourism, through our voice of advocacy and education. Our marketing platforms can help Australian tourism businesses to better communicate their sustainability success stories; and, by doing so, help encourage others to follow their lead.
We have identified eight initial key areas of focus for TA:
- Advocacy: showcasing sustainable and purpose driven tourism products, experiences and examples of best practice.
- Leadership: educating and enabling greater capacity for sustainability in our industry.
- Brand: integrating sustainability into Brand Australia to meet growing consumer demand and drive uptake of sustainable tourism experiences.
- Industry support: highlighting and encouraging industry best practice and raising awareness of Australian tourism’s sustainability credentials.
- Office footprint: reducing TA’s general footprint, including in the key areas of waste, energy, travel and procurement.
- Events footprint: reducing TA’s events footprint and encouraging others in the industry to do the same.
- Procurement and partnerships: sourcing from sustainable suppliers and establishing sustainable credentials for our partners and suppliers.
- Culture: embedding sustainability as a core value within TA’s culture, actions and behaviour.
Federal Government Support and Resources
- Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
Grants, tools and advice
- Business Australia Business Energy and Advice Program
Free energy efficiency audits and advice for small businesses Australia wide including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
- Business.gov.au Environmental Management Guide
Information on environmental management, how to make your business environmentally friendly and energy efficiency.
- Federal Government Grants and Programs Finder
Find grants, funding and support programs from across government to help your business.
- Green Initiative Grants
The Australian government has introduced several measures to promote environmentally friendly initiatives. Assistance programs are available in the form of grants, incentives, awards and subsidies to individuals, groups, community networks and businesses.
- Emissions Reduction Fund
The Emissions Reduction Fund provides businesses with the opportunity to earn Australian carbon credit units for every tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent a business stores or avoids emitting through adopting new practices and technologies.
- Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand Fund
Targeted funding assistance for sector organisations seeking to restart, re-imagine or create new activities. The program is intended to assist by providing funding for the presentation of activities across all art forms to audiences across Australia. Projects that target audiences in outer metropolitan, regional and remote areas will also be taken into account, as well as projects that involve tours and use local regional pre-production and production, services and support acts. Applications close 31 December 2021.
- Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
Grants, tools and advice - Business Australia Business Energy and Advice Program
Free energy efficiency audits and advice for small businesses Australia wide including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. - Business.gov.au Environmental Management Guide
Information on environmental management, how to make your business environmentally friendly and energy efficiency. - Federal Government Grants and Programs Finder
Find grants, funding and support programs from across government to help your business. - Green Initiative Grants
The Australian government has introduced several measures to promote environmentally friendly initiatives. Assistance programs are available in the form of grants, incentives, awards and subsidies to individuals, groups, community networks and businesses. - Emissions Reduction Fund
The Emissions Reduction Fund provides businesses with the opportunity to earn Australian carbon credit units for every tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent a business stores or avoids emitting through adopting new practices and technologies. - Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand Fund
Targeted funding assistance for sector organisations seeking to restart, re-imagine or create new activities. The program is intended to assist by providing funding for the presentation of activities across all art forms to audiences across Australia. Projects that target audiences in outer metropolitan, regional and remote areas will also be taken into account, as well as projects that involve tours and use local regional pre-production and production, services and support acts. Applications close 31 December 2021.
Modern Slavery Statement
To meet the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2018, Tourism Australia has developed and published a Modern Slavery Statement. This outlines our commitment to assessing the risks of modern slavery across our supply chain and putting in place appropriate controls, processes, and procedures to manage these risks across the business. Download our Modern Slavery Statement.
Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)
Our Indigenous Culture and Heritage is an important pillar of our sustainability approach. TA’s recently updated Reconciliation Action Plan reaffirms our commitment to reconciliation and supporting respectful and productive relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, enabling greater cultural awareness and preservation of our cultural heritage. Download our Reconciliation Action Plan
For more information contact ask.us@tourism.australia.com.
