Australia ecotourism could be Swiss watch of tourism

Ecotourism guru says industry complacent: missing indigenous opportunity and should read its own book

A certified Swiss Chronometer

Having almost invented the concept of ecotourism in the early 1990s, Australia needs to focus its intent and aggressively wrestle a bigger market share of this sophisticated and lucrative sector from its competitors according to industry pioneer, Mr Tony Charters.

Convening the upcoming Global Eco Tourism Conference for Ecotourism Australia, (Sydney: November 7 – 10) Mr Charters said the industry in Australia was complacent and a review of visitation data for key World Heritage Areas shows long-term negative growth.

“The Great Barrier Reef currently hosts 1.3 visitors per year, similar numbers in 2011 as in 1991 – 20 years on. Fraser Island (Queensland) and Shark Bay (Western Australia) are only marginally better than in the early 1990‟s, and Kakadu (Northern Territory) actually has lower visitor numbers.

“Maybe Australia needs to re-read the book on ecotourism – the book it wrote in the early 1990‟s,” said Mr Charters.

Mr Charters suggests Australia‟s ecotourism sector needs to become the ‘Swiss watch’ of tourism, with a focus on quality, reliability, reputation and exclusivity.

This will require a heavy investment in quality, standards and certification – the equivalent of the ‘certified Swiss chronometer’.

A critical oversight of the industry is the number of opportunities for tourists to meet Indigenous Australian and learn about their culture.

“We know Australians have developed a taste for international holidays and that growing international visitor numbers is now critical. One of the keys to Australia’s appeal is the opportunity to have an authentic experience with indigenous Australians and their culture.

“Currently the opportunities are too few and far between.”

Small to medium scale developments need to be the focus, with high quality, exceptional experiences and unique opportunities, according to Mr Charters.

He will be making his case to the industry at the Global Eco Conference being held in Sydney this year, under the theme ‘Seize the Potential’. The conference incorporates an Indigenous Tourism Forum and ASEAN and OCEANIA Tourism Forum.

Full programme details are available at http://www.globaleco.com.au

Valere Tjolle
Valere is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite 2011 Special Offers HERE