ECOTOURISM Australia’s first ever ECO Think Destination Forum will be held on Gumbaynggirr Country from 22-25 March.

Organisers say the forum will bring together regional stakeholders to “discuss sustainable destination management”.

Advertise with News of The Area today.
It’s worth it for your business.
Message us.
Phone us – (02) 4981 8882.
Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au

Jointly organised by Coffs Harbour and Bellingen Shire Councils the event is supported by WWF Australia, Destination North Coast and the Federal Government’s Recovery for Regional Tourism Fund.

The Forum is Ecotourism Australia’s first major event focused solely on destinations through its ECO Destination Certification program.

Coffs Harbour City Council spokesperson Fiona Barden said the forum “aligns seamlessly with the Coffs Coast being recently announced as the first ECO Destination in NSW”.

Ms Barden said the event would allow Councils, local businesses and organisations to “share their knowledge with sustainable tourism experts and strengthen their presence within our community”.

Ecotourism Australia Chair Dr Claire Ellis said the event was a great opportunity for destination operators to share knowledge and be inspired by their varied approaches to destination management.

“The forum is designed to be a two-way conversation about action and implementing change in the region,” Ms Ellis said.

“Since launching our ECO Destination Certification program in 2018 and seeing our first destination achieving certification we now have 18 destinations in the program.”

Ms Ellis said since the reopening of international borders “it is even more critical for us to respond to the growing consumer demand for sustainability and quality nature-based destinations”.

“We now have a globally accepted framework that demonstrates the value of a whole-of-destination, continuous improvement approach; with councils, tourism organisations, protected area management agencies and the local community working in partnership for the long-term benefit of the environment, residents and visitors.”

Topics tackled at the forum will include ‘nature and tourism as allies’; ‘ecotourism, community and culture’; ‘a business environment where ecotourism thrives’, and ‘sustainability is in demand, now what?’.

Keynote speakers include Tourism Australia’s Head of Sustainability Penny Rafferty, TRC Tourism’s Penny Spoelder, Clark Webb of Gumbaynggirr Giingana Freedom School, Ann Walton of NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and local tourism operators Jetty Dive, Mount Browne Cottage, North Coast Regional Botanic Garden, Bellingen Nature Tours and Wajaana Yaam Adventure Tours.

More info at the ECO Think Destination Forum, visit https://bit.ly/35kR6ss.

By Paul FOGARTY