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Sustainability in the tourism industry
Sustainability is not an add-on or program that is run alongside tourism industry events. Economic, social and environmental outcomes should be addressed within the event programs and activities.
Being a sustainable business not only benefits the tourism industry but also the communities in which we operate and future generations.
As a valuable economic contributor - employing around 500,000 people directly, and nearly as many indirectly - and contributing over $90 billion in economic impact - the tourism industry must continue to attract visitors to and within Australia, while protecting our environment, heritage and culture and managing the issues raised by climate change.
The tourism industry 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 Tourism Australia's Sustainability Action Plan, Tourism Australia is committed to delivering a more sustainable ATE across the triple bottom line of environmental, economic and social impacts. Tourism Australia's ATE 2012 partners - Tourism Western Australia and Qantas are also committed to making ATE a more sustainable event. ATE provides an excellent opportunity to:
- Raise awareness of sustainability issues
- Promote Australia’s sustainable practices and green credentials to international buyers and media.
Media representatives will report to millions of people worldwide on the Australian tourism industry’s sustainable activities and international journalists, who participate in pre and post familiarisations to further experience Australia first hand, expand the opportunity for the Australian tourism industry to promote their approaches to sustainability.
ATE participants can do their bit too!
There are practical things that everyone can do at ATE as sustainability is achievable through both small and large actions. All participants are encouraged to:
- Find creative methods to communicate in more sustainable ways, particularly online
- Use recycled content and enviro-inks where printed material is necessary
- Take action and incorporate sustainability practices into their participation at ATE and more importantly when they return to the workplace.
What is Tourism Australia doing?
- ATE will be paperless where possible, for example this will mean reducing the number of delegate manuals printed and emailing all invoices and invitations.
- The ATE 2012 Media Centre will be paperless with an online media release publication facility offered to sellers.
- Where paper is necessary, for example the fold-out ATE floor plans and the ATE Directories, Australian recycled paper will be used in addition to minimising the volume of printed materials.
- ATE Daily will feature regular stories focusing on great sustainability initiatives.
Tourism Australia believes that sustained effort and enduring commitment by government, 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 event.
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