Leading the Way in Ecotourism for Port Douglas and Daintree Region

PORT DOUGLAS, Australia - June 25, 2018 - PRLog -- Tourism Port Douglas Daintree executive officer Tara Bennett said the foundations were already in place with many of the country's leading tourism product, found right here in the Douglas Shire, qualifying for the ecotourism accreditation tick of approval.

"We live in an area of outstanding natural beauty that is globally significant – the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.

"Our operators are committed to protecting, preserving and ensuring long-term, sustainable tourism experiences that are authentic, memorable and safe."

Ms Bennet said many of the Douglas region's ecotourism businesses are small to medium sized enterprises.

"Ecotourism is about ensuring best practices across the board, whether you are a small independent tour guide or are larger commercial operation.

Under the new program being driven by the Douglas Shire Council, Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, and Ecotourism Australia, operators will be given guidance and assistance to complete their eco-accreditation.

"Our industry continues to set the benchmark high, and I look forward to working with trade to showcase these tourism operators as more and more become officially accredited.

"We held our first workshop last week and this was very well attended by industry.

"The pilot program will see Douglas Shire Council provide financial assistance to kickstart the process, with Ecotourism Australia providing mentoring for businesses to help guide them along the way."

Currently, there are 21 operators providing eco-certified tourism experiences as as per the Green Travel Guide on www.ecotourism.org.au.These are:

Daintree Specialised Tours

Jungle Tours and Trekking

Quicksilver Cruises

Sailaway

Thala Beach Nature Reserve

Wavelength Marine Charters

Wildlife Habitat

Silky Oaks Lodge and Healing Waters Spa

Daintree Discovery Centre

Hartley's Crocodile Adventures

Jungle Adventures Cape Trib

  Ocean Safari Cape Tribulation

Aquarius Sail & Snorkel

Daintree Tours

Back Country Bliss Adventures

Reef and Rainforest Connections

Tony's Tropical Tours

Mossman Gorge Centre

Daintree Ecolodge & Spa

Daintree Wilderness Lodge

Ferntree Rainforest Lodge

Ms Bennett said the European markets, particularly Germany, are showing the strongest interest in eco-accreditation, while the younger generations in  the US and China Japan have a rapidly growing appreciation for environmental credentials.

"There is a real opportunity here for the Douglas Shire to turn its unrivalled environmental reputation into a competitive advantage through the delivery of sustainable authentic sustainable tourism practices."

Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu said eco-accreditation was a clear and recognisable brand that showed the world you practice leading environmental standards

"Everyone knows Douglas Shire has a strong environmental charter and now we

have a real chance to beam this across the globe and draw more visitors in," she said.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Tara Bennett, Executive Officer

Tourism Port Douglas & Daintree

Phone:  07 4099 4588

Email:  eo@visitportdouglasdaintree.com

Web:   www.visitportdouglasdaintree.com (http://www.tpdd.com.au/)

Issued by Tanya Snelling

Strategic PR

P 0417 202 663

E tanya@strategicpr.com.au