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Sustainability in the Tourism Industry
Sustainability is not an add-on or a program that is run alongside tourism industry events. Event programs and activities should address economic, social and environmental outcomes. Being a sustainable business is not just good for members of the tourism industry but – since we support an essential community product – it is good for the communities in which we operate, as well as future generations.
As a valuable economic contributor - employing over 850,000 people and contributing over $85 billion - the tourism industry must continue to attract visitors to and within Australia, while protecting our environment, heritage and culture and manage the issues raised by climate change. The tourism industry also provides the perfect vehicle to enhance understanding of the vulnerability of our natural assets, further increasing the likelihood that those assets will be protected.
Sustainability at ATE
As part of their Sustainability Action Plan, Tourism Australia has committed to delivering a more sustainable ATE across the triple bottom line of environmental, economic and social impacts. ATE10 partners - Tourism Australia, the South Australian Tourism Commission and Qantas have committed to developing a more sustainable ATE. ATE provides an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of sustainability issues and to promote Australia’s sustainable practices and green credentials to international buyers and media. The media representatives will report to millions of people worldwide on the Australian tourism industry’s sustainable activities. International journalists will also participate in pre and post tours to experience other areas of Australia first hand, further expanding the opportunity to promote our approach to sustainability.
If you’re participating in ATE you can do your bit too!
There are practical things that everyone can do to behave more responsibly and all partners will use this opportunity to educate participants on the importance of sustainability issues. All ATE10 participants are encouraged find creative methods to communicate in more sustainable ways, particularly online, but also where printed material is necessary, using recycled content and enviro-inks. Sustainability is achievable through small actions as well as large ones and a key focus of the sustainable activity at ATE is to encourage participants to take action and incorporate them not only into their participation at ATE but more importantly when they return to the workplaces.
What’s Tourism Australia doing?
ATE will be paperless where possible – email, online, USBs. For example this will mean reducing the number of Delegate Manuals printed and emailing all invoices and invitations. The International Media Centre will be paperless with an online media release publication facility offered to sellers. Where paper is necessary, for example the ATE Floorplan and ATE Daily, environmental practices will be used including Australian recycled content paper and enviro-inks in addition to minimising the volume of printed materials. ATE Daily will feature regular stories focusing on great sustainability initiatives so all sellers are encouraged to make contact with the ATE Daily Office at the event.
Tourism Australia believes that sustained effort and enduring commitment by governments, business and the community will make an impact on sustainability issues. The tourism industry has an important role to play in addressing sustainability challenges and ATE will be used as a vehicle to build relationships to continue the quest for sustainability after the ATE event.
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