Ecotourism Australia is a world first, begun in 1991 by the tourism industry to identify genuine ecotourism operators and nature tourism operators in Australia. The Eco Certification Program is now being exported to the rest of the world as the International Ecotourism Standard.
Ecotourism and nature tourism certification provide industry, protected area managers, local communities and travelers with an assurance that a certified product is backed by a commitment to best practice ecological sustainability, natural area management and the provision of quality ecotourism experiences.
The definition of ecotourism as adopted by Ecotourism Australia is:
| Ecotourism is ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation." | |
