Ecotourism Australia
– EcoGuide Certification
I have worked as a
Dive Instructor and Course Director on the Great Barrier
Reef for 19 years and am committed to ensuring that
I and my students always practice minimal impact scuba
diving which support the PADI Project AWARE philosophy
that divers ‘should leave only bubbles and take only
photos’.
I have recently become
certified as an Ecotourism Australia EcoGuide. By
becoming an EcoGuide I endeavour to ensure that my
diving instruction fosters student’s environmental
understanding and appreciation of the World Heritage
Marine Park that I am lucky enough to call my office.
As a certified EcoGuide I have become a member of
Ecotourism Australia which allows me to actively support
the development of Ecotourism within Australia. Pro
Dive Cairns is an Ecotourism certified operator with
Ecotourism Australia and my EcoGuide accreditation
allows me to take a lead role in ensuring that our
dive operation is an industry leader in environmentally
sustainable practices.
Ecotourism Australia
defines Ecotourism as: ‘ecologically sustainable tourism
with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas
that fosters environmental and cultural understanding,
appreciation and conservation’.
Ecotourism Australia promotes the ultimate definition
of Ecotourism as compliance with the core criteria
of the ECO certification program. Guides and Tourism
operators whose tour, attraction or accommodation
achieves ECO certification can genuinely claim to
provide an ecotourism or nature tourism experience.
The Tourism Queensland
Ecotourism Plan 2008 acknowledges that ‘Ecotourism
is one of Queensland tourism’s fastest growing sectors’.
Research by Tourism Queensland indicates that ‘increasing
number of visitors are seeking environmental tourism
experiences’.
I encourage newly qualified
dive instructors to gain accreditation as an EcoGuide
in order to further enhance visitor’s appreciation
of the reefs that we visit and to ensure that dive
instructors skills are recognised by employers as
being at the forefront of the rapidly expanding ecotourism
market.
The EcoGuide Program
provides a credential, endorsing the individual members
as a guide who will deliver an authentic, environmentally
responsible and professional ecotourism experience.
It provides guides with a cost effective and convenient
advantage in being able to attain both EcoGuide and
the National Guides of Australia (GOA) accreditation
in one application.
The Benefits of the
EcoGuide Program:
· Tour operators have a means of identifying quality
guides, a benchmark for training purposes and greater
product appeal by promoting the use of EcoGuides.
· Certified EcoGuides gain the advantage of an industry
credential, network of resources and support and membership
of Ecotourism Australia.
· Visitors gain a guarantee of guides who are committed
to providing quality nature tourism experiences in
a safe, culturally sensitive and environmentally sustainable
manner.
· Protected Area Managers have the ability to identify
operators who employ staff with appropriate training
and qualifications when reviewing permit applications
in sensitive areas.
· Environmental benefits flow from improved guiding
practices that lead to fewer negative environmental
and cultural impacts.
For further information
about the EcoGuide Program visit
downloads and download the
PDF on the Eco Program or visit www.ecotourism.org.au/ecoguide.asp
Or contact Ecotourism Australia on 07 32521530 or
eco@ecotourism.org.au
Or Fiona Sleight an EcoGuide National Assessor at
EcoPro Consultancy www.ecopro.com.au
or 0427 236923
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