Echidna Walkabout calls on Tourism Australia to sign climate pledge
At Tourism Australia’s first Sustainability Workshop, Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours called on the peak marketing body to become a signatory to the United Nations climate action statement known as the Glasgow Declaration.
The Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism was one of the outcomes of the United Nation’s COP26 climate conference held in Glasgow last year and aims to rapidly reduce tourism’s carbon emissions.
“With the new government in Canberra saying it is committed to action on climate change now is the right time to call on Tourism Australia to commit to reducing carbon emissions by 50% in the next decade and to net zero by 2050”, said Roger Smith, Director Operations at Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours.
Thought leader shows the way
Tourism Australia invited Echidna Walkabout to attend the inaugural “Thought Leadership Workshop on Sustainable Tourism” held recently in country Victoria. Some of Australia’s top sustainable experts attended the special invitation-only workshop.
“Sustainable tourism’s first priority must be action on climate for two reasons,” said Mr Smith, “Firstly, without action Australia’s damaged environments will not appeal to travellers and secondly, it makes excellent marketing sense.”
“Under the previous government this action would not have been possible but now TA can show what real leadership is by signing the Glasgow Declaration,” Mr Smith said, “The flow on effect would motivate State and regional tourism bodies to kick-start long overdue action to slow the impact of climate change on tourism.”
“Globally, by signing the Glasgow Declaration, Tourism Australia would signal to the world that Australian tourism is on board with climate action and is ready to face up to the challenge of climate change.
“This action will immediately improve our climate credibility in the international tourism market whilst protecting our natural assets and our wildlife for high quality sustainable tourism,” Mr Smith said.
“When our natural assets disappear, so do our tourism marketing opportunities”
“Over the past three years we’ve seen the terrible impact of climate change on tourism with unprecedented bushfires and floods on our industry,” Mr Smith said.
“Yes Covid has decimated tourism but in the long term Covid’s impact will be a minor blip compared to the havoc climate change will wreak on tourism,” he said, “This is especially the case in Australia where climate change is predicted to hit harder than in many other countries.”
“Tourism in Australia relies heavily on nature-based activities in the bush, along our rivers, on the beaches and in the ocean.
“Major climate catastrophes like the bushfires of 2019-20, the floods along the east coast this year, plus large scale coral bleaching along the Great Barrier Reef, all show us what climate change can do, but when you add land lost through sea level rise and coastal storms you begin to see the perilous state our industry is in,” Mr Smith said.
“When our natural assets disappear, so do our tourism marketing opportunities,” said Mr Smith.
Climate action an “imperative marketing strategy”
“Across the globe travellers are looking for travel where they can give back to the planet by reducing their carbon footprint, but when they look at Australia they see a country that continues to prevaricate on climate action.”
“They see stories about bushfires, floods, coral bleaching and massive loss of wildlife and learn that we are one of the world’s highest contributors to climate change.
“You can’t blame them for deciding to travel to a different country.” Mr Smith said
“Post Covid, as Australia opens up to international travellers, signing the Glasgow Declaration is not only a climate action strategy, it’s an imperative marketing strategy that will show intending travellers that we give a damn about the future.
“As our peak peak tourism marketing body, Tourism Australia has a direct responsibility to get on board the Glasgow Declaration and lead Australia into a climate action future,” Mr Smith said
Read more about Echidna Walkabout’s leadership role:
Echidna Walkabout Launch Partner of Glasgow Declaration
Tourism Declares : Climate Emergency
COP26 – travel industry unites against climate change
Mungo tour connects travel and climate change
