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    ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

    STRATEGIC PLAN

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    CONTENTS

    Eecie a 1

    Ici 3

    Challege a ppiie 4

    Tourism's Carbon Footprint 4

    Consumer Demand 6

    Business Perormance 8

    Partnerships & Frameworks 10

    Minimising Resource Use And Waste Production 12

    Assisting The Tourism Industry To

    Adapt To Climate Change 15

    Leaig he wa 16

    Ke peface iica 18

    Appei 20

    MINISTERS FOREWORD

    The Victorian Government is taking the

    lead in environmentally sustainable tourism.

    For Victorias tourism industry, taking action

    on sustainability is not only environmentally

    necessary, it is also about enhancing the

    competitiveness o individual tourism

    businesses and promoting Victoria as a

    sustainable tourism destination.

    I am pleased to present the EnvironmentallySustainable Tourism Strategic Plan 20092012

    which outlines the benets to our tourism

    industry o implementing environmentally

    sustainable business practices, whileproviding a ramework to guide the uture

    sustainability o Victorias tourism industry.

    The Plan is not only a step orward in

    assisting the tourism industry to mitigate

    the impacts o climate change, but will

    assist businesses to transition toward

    environmentally responsible business

    practices.

    I look orward to the continued growth o

    sustainable tourism oerings throughout

    our State.

    TIM HOLDING MP

    Minister or Tourism and Major Events

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    Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan 20092012 1

    ExECUTIVE SUMMARY

    Tourism is one o Victorias key industries, generating more

    than $15 billion or the States economy and employing

    approximately 180,000 people. The industry represents

    6.1 per cent o Victorias total Gross State Product (GSP)

    and 7.0 per cent o employment.

    Sustainable tourism can be dened as tourism that delivers

    positive economic, social and environmental outcomes with

    consideration to the needs o the visitor, industry, community

    and environment.

    Demand or sustainable tourism practices in Australia is rising

    as consumer demand grows and industry, Government and

    tourism operators recognise the advantages o meeting higherenvironmental standards.

    The Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan has

    been developed by Tourism Victoria in consultation with State

    Government representatives and key tourism bodies.

    It addresses the key challenges o implementing

    environmentally sustainable tourism practices in Victorias

    tourism industry.

    It also addresses issues associated with climate change and

    assisting the Victorian tourism industry to adapt to a range

    o national and international measures to mitigate its impacts.

    This Strategic Plan encourages businesses to adopt more

    sustainable practices in order to reduce their environmental

    impact and achieve cost savings. It promotes the use o State

    and Federal Government programs such as CarbonDown

    and Grow Me the Money and urges the industry to

    develop partnership opportunities or the enhancement o

    environmentally sustainable tourism in Victoria.

    Key challenges/opportunities as set out in this Environmentally

    Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan are:

    Reducingthetourismindustryscarbonfootprint;

    Meetinggrowingconsumerdemandfor

    sustainablepractices;

    Improvingbusinessperformancethroughsustainable

    tourism and marketing the Victorian tourism industrys

    environmentalcredentials;

    Developingpartnershipsandframeworks;

    Minimisingresourceuseandtheproductionofwaste;and

    Assistingthetourismindustrytoadapttoclimatechange.

    Businesses and the industry need to position themselves

    to meet these challenges and take advantage o new

    opportunities arising rom changing consumer preerences

    as well as changing environmental and business practices.

    High priority actions identied in this Strategic Plan to be

    undertaken in 20092012 are:

    Promotingbusinesseswhichdemonstrateenvironmental

    credentialsthroughaccreditationprograms;

    Developinganddistributingacarbonfootprinttoolkitfor

    usebybusinessesanddestinations;

    Developingandimplementingaresponsiblevisitorcommunications plan, including a responsible travel section

    onvisitvictoria.com;

    WorkingwiththeVictorianEmployersChamberof

    Commerce and Industry to ensure that tourism is

    an integral par t o the Grow Me the Money and

    CarbonDownprograms;

    Preparingguidancenotesforeventorganisersoncarbon

    footprintmeasurementandreductionstrategies;

    PromotingandcontinuingtoenhancetheSustainability

    in Tourism section o the Tourism Excellence program, in

    ordertoassistbusinessestobecomemoresustainable;and

    Providingadvicetoregionalandmetropolitantourism

    organisations on engaging with tourism businesses on

    sustainability matters, including climate change.

    The key measures o success o the Environmentally

    Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan will be:

    Increasednumberoftourismbusinessesparticipatingin

    carbonmeasurement,reductionandoffsetprograms;

    Increasedrecognitionofleadingenvironmentallyfriendly

    tourismbusinesses;

    Increasednumberofindustryprofessionalswithexpertise

    insustainabilityissues;

    Increasednumberofconsumersseekingsustainable

    experiences and acting in a more environmentally

    friendlymanner;

    Increasednumberofbusinessesparticipatingin

    environmentalimprovementprograms;and

    IncreasednumberofbusinesseswithTourismVictoria

    endorsed environmental accreditation.

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    2

    Sustainability is about morethan just looking after our

    natural environment. It isalso about considering thesocial and economic impactof what we do.

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    Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan 20092012 3

    INTRODUCTION

    SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

    The World Commission on Environment and Development

    outlines sustainability as: orms o progress that meet the

    needs o the present without compromising the ability o

    uture generations to meet their needs.

    Sustainability is about more than just looking ater our natural

    environment. It is also about considering the social and

    economic impact o what we do.

    The United Nations World Tourism Organizations denition

    o sustainable tourism brings the above concepts together

    and denes sustainable tourism as tourism that delivers

    positive economic, social and environmental outcomes with

    consideration to the needs o the visitor, industry, community

    and environment.

    For the purposes o this strategy the term sustainable tourism

    is, in the most par t, used in reerence to the environmental

    impacts o tourism. In particular the need to encourage the

    tourism industry to minimise resource use, better meet

    consumer demand, achieve greater business perormance and

    address the associated challenges posed by climate change.

    Demand or sustainable tourism practices in Australia is

    rising as consumer demand grows and government and the

    tourism industry recognise the advantages o meeting higherenvironmental standards.

    Sustainable tourism is important to all tourism stakeholders.

    It is essential that government bodies and the tourism

    industry work together to enhance uture sustainability

    opportunities and reduce the adverse impacts o tourism.

    OUR vISION

    Tourism Victorias vision is, that over the next decade, the

    Victorian tourism industry will:

    Formagroupofleadinggreenbusinesses;

    Bepositionedtorapidlytakeupsustainable

    practicesinthefuture;and

    Betterunderstandconsumerdemandfor

    environmental perormance.

    Why IS ThIS PLAN IMPORTANT?

    Unsustainable tourism practices can aect the uture viability

    ofthetourismindustry;andtheStateGovernment,through

    Tourism Victoria, is taking a leadership role in addressing the

    challenges o this sector.

    The scale o the tourism industry in Victoria and its growth

    orecasts mean that the environmental and social impacts otourism can not be overlooked.

    Historically, Tourism Victoria has undertaken and supported

    a number o sustainable tourism activities however, it

    is recognised that numerous challenges still exist. The

    Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan provides

    an opportunity to address those challenges and embrace

    uture sustainable opportunities in a coordinated manner.

    Tourism Victoria, through the Environmentally Sustainable

    Tourism Strategic Plan, will assist the tourism industry to

    change negative community perceptions o the industry and

    achieve economic benets through sustainable practice.

    This Strategic Plan encourages businesses to embrace

    sustainable tourism practices in order to meet consumer

    demand and to improve business perormance.

    In addition, the Federal Government is pursuing the Carbon

    Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) which will introduce a

    carbon trading scheme in Australia. This trading scheme will

    aect economic conditions and visitor travel patterns. Tourism

    Victorias Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan is

    needed to assist in positioning the tourism industry to adapt

    to these changes.

    Key challenges/opportunities as set out in this Environmentally

    Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan are:

    Reducingthetourismindustryscarbonfootprint;

    Meetinggrowingconsumerdemandfor

    sustainablepractices;

    Improvingbusinessperformancethroughsustainable

    tourism and marketing the Victorian tourism industrys

    environmentalcredentials;

    Developingpartnershipsandframeworks;

    Minimisingresourceuseandtheproductionofwaste;and

    Assistingthetourismindustrytoadapttoclimatechange.

    STRATEgIc cONTExT

    The Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan is an

    integral part o the State Governments 10 Year Tourism and

    Events Strategy, which encourages the industry to perorm atworld class levels in critical areas such as sustainable tourism.

    This impor tance is reinorced in Tourism Victorias Business

    Plan 20072010, with sustainability an underlying principle

    that is embedded throughout the publication.

    At the national level, the Council o Australian Governments'

    (COAG) National Climate Change Adaptation Framework

    identies tourism as one o many sectors vulnerable to

    climate change. The COAG Framework gave the Tourism

    Ministers' Council (TMC), which is made up o Federal,

    State, Territory and New Zealand Tourism Ministers, the

    responsibility or developing a two-year Action Plan. A

    Framework or Action was endorsed by TMC in July 2008.

    This Framework includes some o Tourism Victorias actions

    under the Action Plan.

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    Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan 200920124

    TOURISMS cARBON fOOTPRINT

    Wh i hi ie ipa?

    According to the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research

    Centre (STCRC), tourism is the seventh highest contributor to

    Australias greenhouse gas emissions, producing approximately

    our per cent o the countrys total carbon emissions. As these

    emissions are likely to increase with tourism sector growth, it is

    important that the Victorian tourism industry responds.

    Tourism accommodation, transport, events and attractions

    consume signicant amounts o uel, energy and water and

    can impact the natural environment. O these, air transportis by ar the largest contributor to tourism emissions,

    accounting or 40 per cent o the sectors contribution to

    CO2 emissions globally.

    The introduction o low cost carrier airlines in Australia has

    improved accessibility to fights and opened new travel markets

    but in turn has increased energy consumption.

    It is important to note that the aviation sector continues

    to implement measures to reduce aviation greenhouse gas

    emissions. Aircrat are 70 per cent more than they were 40

    years ago through improvements in aircrat design, engine

    eciency and operational practices. However, the demand

    or aviation is orecast to exceed these improvements and

    thereore poses a signicant challenge.

    Similarly, despite much technological advancement, motor

    vehicles also contribute a signicant portion o the tourism

    industry's carbon ootprint.

    Recognising the economic importance o aircrat, motor

    vehicles and accommodation or Victorian tourism does not

    reduce the need to minimise the environmental impact o

    the industry.

    Industry and governments need to better gauge the carbon

    ootprint o tourism activity in order to improve perormance.To address this, Tourism Victoria recently commissioned a

    study to develop a carbon ootprinting toolkit. The toolkit

    will assist destination managers and tourism businesses to

    measure their environmental impact.

    Tourism Victoria will play a leadership role in advocating

    green tourism and promoting ways that tourism businesses

    can reduce resource use. This includes encouraging

    recognised carbon oset programs and educating both

    tourist operators and visitors to Victoria to make more

    inormed choices regarding sustainability.

    Wha will we ?

    Throughincreasedconsultationanddevelopmentprograms, Tourism Victoria will work in partnership with

    the tourism industry to measure and reduce the carbon

    ootprint o tourism in Victoria.

    Inadditiontobroadergovernmentinitiatives,Tourism

    Victoria will conduct an audit o its own carbon ootprint

    and aims to incorporate more energy saving and

    environmentally sustainable practices into its activities.

    TherearelimitedopportunitiesfortheVictoriantourism

    industry to directly reduce the environmental impact o

    tourism-related air travel. However, Tourism Victoria will

    work with the aviation industry to actively inorm consumers

    about the impacts o tourism and encourage airlines toimprove uel eciency.

    Intermsofcartravel,tourismplannersandbusinesses

    should, where appropriate, work together to promote

    a modal shit towards the use o more environmentally

    riendly orms o transport or tourism (train, buses, bicycles,

    oot) both to and within tourist destinations.

    ChALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES

    CAsE study: Go WEst tours

    Go West Tours conduct more than 20 trips per

    week with a feet o diesel uel vehicles. With the

    environments natural assets at the core o its business

    success, tour proprietors have developed environmental

    practices which have resulted in a business boom.

    Go West Tours contacted Greenfeet Australia to

    calculate its total uel usage or 12 months and oset

    this usage. The company produced approximately

    123 tons o Carbon Dioxide and planted 461 trees

    to oset these emissions.

    In addition, the business trained its drivers in uel

    efcientdrivingtechniques;convertedtolowenergy

    lightbulbs;recycledsupplies;andmonitoreditshead

    oces water and power use.

    As a result Go West Tours have reduced the cost o

    uel and vehicle repairs, reduced resource bills and

    enjoy near ull capacity tours.

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    5

    Working together topromote the use of more

    environmentally friendlyforms of tourism transport.

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    Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan 200920126

    cONSUMER dEMANd

    Wh i hi ie ipa?

    The last ew years have seen a considerable increase in

    consumer awareness o sustainable tourism, partly uelled

    by extensive media coverage. Consumers are increasingly

    seeking environmentally riendly products and have a

    greater understanding o the impacts o sustainability

    and climate change.

    There is a low but growing number o consumers willing to

    change their actions in relation to these issues and businesses

    can target these consumers to gain a competitive advantage.A range o studies, three o which are reerenced below, have

    been undertaken to look at the correlation between the

    environmental impacts o tourism and changes in consumer

    demand/behaviour. Studies investigate the gap between what

    people say they might do and the number o people who

    have changed their behaviour or are willing to pay more or

    a more sustainable experience.

    Tourists are increasingly demanding that the environments they

    visit are high quality and pollutionree as well as inherently

    interesting. Consumer awareness regarding sustainable tourism

    has also uelled concern among some travellers and made

    them reluctant to undertake tourism activities including long

    haul travel to destinations such as Australia. This is a key

    concern or the Victorian tourism industry.

    In May 2008, a joint Commonwealth and State study into

    consumer awareness ound that although consumers eel

    that the environment is important, they have a tendency not

    to take responsibility or environmental issues. Many also

    eel that travel is a reward to be enjoyed and that i they are

    sustainable at home they need not worry about such issues

    whilst travelling.

    The study notes that there is a dierence between attitudes

    and behaviours or approximately 44 per cent o thosesurveyed. This is a challenge or Victoria as, i and when

    behaviours and awareness all into line, businesses must be

    prepared to meet this consumer demand. Victorian tourism

    businesses need to take action now so that the State will

    remain at the oreront o tour ism in Australia.

    Supporting these ndings, the 2007 Lonely Planet Travellers

    Pulse Survey (24,500 respondents worldwide) ound the

    ollowing in relation to consumer demand:

    84percentofrespondentssaidtheywouldconsider

    osetting their emissions in the uture (3 per cent had

    donesointhepast);

    90percentofpeoplesaidtheywouldormight

    purposefullytravelinalowimpactway;and

    93percentofpeoplesaidtheywouldormight

    purposeully partake in environmentally riendly travel in

    the uture.

    A Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC)

    study also ound that 70 per cent o tourists surveyed indicated

    that they would change their travel patterns or plans in the

    uture to be more green.

    However, the Lonely Planet Pulse Survey results and STCRC

    study ound that while consumers are aware o sustainability

    impacts, it seems that many are not willing to pay signicantlyhigher rates or environmentally sustainable surcharges. When

    asked to speciy how much extra they would be prepared to

    pay or green accommodation, the STCRC study ound that

    25 per cent said they would pay a 510 per cent premium,

    and 12 per cent would pay a 1020 per cent premium.

    These results suggest that awareness o a tourism operators

    eorts to unction in an environmentally responsible manner

    may attract additional patronage and it would be benecial

    or tourism businesses to ocus on this market.

    It is also impor tant to note that the Federal Governments

    Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme will bring about changesto the cost associated with sustainable tourism as the cost

    will, in the uture, be priced in to everyday rates.

    In order or there to be a reduction in the tourism industrys

    environmental impact, consumers need to be more

    responsible in their travel choice and behaviour. It can be

    expected that over time there will be some rebalancing

    o behaviour and expectations and it is important that

    businesses prepare or increasing demand or sustainable

    tourism products.

    Wha will we ?

    In20092010TourismVictoriawilllauncharesponsiblevisitor communications campaign. The campaign will

    highlight sustainable tourism operators and inorm

    consumers about ways to reduce their impact on the

    environment.

    Aresponsibletravelsectionwillbedevelopedonthe

    Tourism Victoria website that will list green accredited

    accommodation providers and events and market

    sustainable activities.

    TourismVictoriawillactivelyassisttourismbusinesses

    to better communicate their green credentials through

    marketing initiatives and will support research into changing

    consumer behaviour associated with environmental issues.

    ChALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES cont.

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    Awareness of a tourismoperator's efforts to function

    in an environmentallyresponsible manner mayattract additional patronage.

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    Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan 200920128

    BUSINESS PERfORMANcE

    Wh i hi ie ipa?

    Sustainable tourism is not only a matter o environmental and

    socialstewardship;itisalsoanimportantelementinenhancing

    the competitiveness o a destination and the prots o

    individual tourism businesses.

    There is a connection between environmental and commercial

    sustainability as reducing energy consumption, minimising waste

    and conserving water can save money and so increase prots.

    Simple changes such as using high-eciency light globes can

    result in signicant cost reductions.Adopting energy eciency practices will also assist tourism

    businesses to adapt to a carbon constrained uture. In

    addition, it will minimise the impact o increasing energy costs

    associated with the introduction o the proposed Carbon

    Pollution Reduction Scheme.

    Tourism Victorias Tourism Investment Guidelines highlight that

    tourism accommodation businesses oten have the greatest

    environmentalimpactofanycommercialbuildings;consuming

    energy, water and other resources yearround.

    While more environmentally sustainable buildings can incur a

    small green premium above the costs o standard construction,they deliver a suite o nancial and environmental benets that

    conventional buildings do not. A lie cycle savings evaluation,

    undertaken as part o the Tourism Investment Guidelines,

    documents that savings rom investment in sustainable design

    and construction generally exceed any additional upront costs.

    Businesses which have acted to improve their environmental

    perormance have also discovered a growing number o

    audiences keen to hear about it. Businesses have beneted

    rom keeping their messages simple and accurate and by

    emphasising consumer benets.

    By creating greater linkages between sustainable tourism

    businesses and consumers, Tourism Victoria can assist in

    developing the competitiveness o Victorias tourism industr y.

    The challenge is ensuring that Tourism Victoria and other

    industry stakeholders can condently market tourism

    businesses that are genuinely green, especially in light o the

    ACCC guidelines on green marketing.

    Tourism Victoria welcomes the broad range o business

    support and accreditation programs that have emerged in

    recent years to identiy green businesses. However, it should

    be noted that these programs have caused some conusion

    among both businesses and consumers as to common

    standards.

    CAsE study: ALto HotEL

    The Alto Hotel on Bourke Street, Melbourne opened

    in 2006. Its eco design and sustainability principles have

    delivered both business advantages and recognition. The

    Hotel was the rst Melbourne CBD Hotel to receive

    the coveted Green Globe Certication, and has been

    awarded several sustainability awards.

    Through minimising resource use and including

    environmentally sustainable design into the buildings

    structure owners, Suzanne and Ricardo Krauskop have

    achieved savings o up to $50,000 per year and increasedrecognition o the business, resulting in urther prots.

    Were not anatics. Were just genuinely interested

    in sustainability and can see that it delivers business

    advantages and minimises damage to uture

    generations, said Mr Krauskop.

    Sustainability can create amazing commercial

    opportunities and has increased our prots, he said.

    ChALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES cont.

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    Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan 20092012 9

    Tourism Victoria recently completed a study to develop o

    relevant accreditation and certication programs, including

    industry par ticipation, costs and the standards assessed.

    As a result o this study, or rms to be identied and

    promoted as part o its planned responsible travel marketing

    activities, a tourism business or event must demonstrate that

    they meet the ollowing criteria:

    Implementinginitiativestoreduceenergyconsumption;

    Implementinginitiativestoreducewaterconsumption;

    Implementinginitiativestoreducewastesenttolandll;

    Commitmenttocontinualimprovementthroughmeasuring and monitoring the impacts/eects o the

    initiativesimplemented;

    Educatingandcommunicatingwithconsumersonthe

    environmentalpracticesimplemented;

    Adheringtoanenvironmentalmanagementplanor

    environmentallysustainablepolicy;and

    Independentassessmentofthebusinessenvironmental

    practices by a qualied environmental consultant/assessor.

    Tourism Victoria will devote resources to marketing

    businesses that adopt these criteria.

    Wha will we ?

    TheStateGovernmenthasanumberofprogramsthat

    businesses can access to improve perormance through

    sustainability. The CarbonDown and Grow Me the

    Money programs help businesses cut water use, energy

    use and waste in order to save money and reduce their

    environmental impact. Tourism Victoria will work with these

    programs to ensure that they include content relevant to

    tourism operators.

    TourismVictoriawilladopttheIdenticationand

    Promotion o Sustainable Tourism Businesses policy and

    encourage businesses to adopt key green criteria. Genuinegreentourismbusinessesandeventswillreceive

    greater recognition through Tourism Victorias website and

    other marketing activities.

    TheQantasSustainableTourismAward,introducedin

    2008 to the Australian and Victorian Tourism Awards will

    continue to be developed and promoted.

    ThroughTourismVictoriasprofessionaldevelopment

    program, the organisation will provide advice to Regional

    Tourism Boards on sustainability matters, including

    climate change.

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    Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan 20092012

    Achieving a more sustainable tourism industry in Victoria is

    undamentally about a number o stakeholders working together

    government, consumers and industry, as demonstrated above.

    Only through the collaboration o these partnerships will the

    industry be able to achieve a more sustainable uture. Tourism

    Victorias role is to acilitate the integration o these stakeholders

    to achieve results or tourism throughout the State.

    A growing global trend is the increased emphasis by

    governments on embedding sustainability across allmainstream strategic planning and policy. The tourism sector

    is no exception with a number o national and regional

    tourism agencies making headway in using sustainability as a

    ramework or all activities.

    There is also an opportunity to link the emerging green

    travel consumer market with the Victorian tourism businesses

    who have adopted sustainable practices. This will potentially

    provide these businesses with a competitive advantage and

    encourage other operators to improve their environmental

    perormance.

    Tourism Victoria continues to build par tnership rameworks

    or the tourism industry and in 2006 was instrumental inthe ormation o the Sustainable Tourism Partnership. This

    orum, composed o representatives o key government

    agencies, tourism industry and nongovernment agencies,

    aims to oster dialogue on key sustainable tourism issues and

    encourage sustainable practices.

    Wha will we ?

    TourismVictoriawillactivelyutiliseitspartnershipsacross

    industry and government to ensure that tourism becomes

    a ocus o policy and programs such as the Victorian

    Governments Our Environment Our Future ramework

    and the CarbonDown and Grow Me the Money programs.

    TourismVictoriawillworkwithrelevanttourismagencies

    to identiy ways to improve sustainable practices in each

    tourism region o Victoria.

    TourismVictoriawillconductanenvironmental

    sustainability audit o its key programs. It will make

    tourism sustainability a key consideration whendealing

    with stakeholders and when generating General Service

    Agreements.

    TourismVictoriawillactivelysupporttheSustainable

    Tourism Partnership. It will lead the group in its promotion

    o sustainable tourism and coordination o activities such

    as regular industry orums and the review o sustainable

    tourism policies and plans.

    10

    PARTNERShIPS & fRAMEWORkS

    Wh i hi ie ipa?

    GovErnmEnts

    Integrate environmental, social and economic objectives into tourism policies and plans and provide

    the enabling environment or private sector.

    ConsumErs

    Voice the demand or sustainable business travel products and be a responsible holiday maker.

    Industry

    Promotes voluntary integration o environmental and social good practices in their business operations.

    ChALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES cont.

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    11

    This Strategic Planencourages businesses to

    adopt more sustainablepractices in order to reducetheir environmental impactand achieve cost savings.

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    Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan 2009201212

    ChALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES cont.

    MINIMISINg RESOURcE USE & WASTE PROdUcTION

    Wh i hi ie ipa?

    Victorias estimated 100,000 tourism-related enterprises and

    numerous events play a central role in ostering sustainable

    tourism. By minimising water use, energy use and waste

    production, businesses can reduce their impact on the

    environment and achieve cost savings.

    Sustainability is oten thought o as an expensive and

    complicated ideal, especially or small to medium sized

    business. Some o these businesses, which dominate Victorias

    tourism industry, have not actively accessed State and FederalGovernment activities that encourage the adoption o

    sustainable practices.

    A recent STCRC study ound a number o barriers to

    implementing sustainable practices by Victorian tourism

    businesses including the costs o implementation, the labour

    intensity o becoming certied, a lack o government and

    industry support and the technical nature o inormation orums.

    However, there are a wide range o activities that can

    be undertaken by businesses to improve environmental

    perormance. Activities range rom accreditation programs

    down to simple actions such as recycling or the use o energy

    ecient light globes. Every business can nd somewhere inthe spectrum o sustainable tourism practices to enhance

    their environmental credentials and reduce costs.

    In terms o events, many organisers are now recognising that

    events do not have to have a signicant environmental impact.

    Through sustainable tourism initiatives, organisers can take

    responsibility or the environmental impact o their event.

    Environmental leadership demonstrated by major events such

    as the Australian Formula One Formula 1 ING Grand Prix and

    regional events including Falls Festival and the Castlemaine State

    Festival is helping to transorm the event industry.

    Despite the eorts o some key events there are still a

    number o organisers unsure o the steps required to reduce

    their environmental impact, including carbon ootprint

    measurement and reduction.

    From a business events perspective, the Melbourne

    Convention and Visitors Bureau was the rst in Australia to

    conduct a comprehensive green audit o the acilities and

    services used by delegates.

    CAsE study: rACv InvErLoCH

    As part o its commitment to environmental outcomes

    in the conduct o its business and to assist members

    to reduce their environmental impact, the RACV has

    developed and applied environmental design criteria to

    its building, construction and reurbishment projects.

    RACVs holiday acility at Inverloch has been designed

    to maximise the sites natural attr ibutes. The site is being

    revegetated with native grasses and trees all indigenous

    species. The wetlands will provide habitat or birds and

    aquatic lie while assisting with drainage and water qualitymanagement. Landscaping has been designed to minimise

    watering requirements.

    CAsE study: tHE AustrALIAn

    FormuLA 1 InG GrAnd PrIx

    The Australian Formula 1 ING Grand Prix, like many

    large events, must consider a range o environmental

    issues, and has made reducing its environmental impact

    a key part o managing the event.

    In 2009, approximately 280,000 patrons attendedVictorias ourday Formula 1 ING Grand Prix event.

    The Australian Formula 1 ING Grand Prix Corporation

    (AGPC), which manages the event is committed to

    minimising the impact o the race on the environment.

    It undertakes specic activities to minimise impacts,

    particular ly in regard to carbon reduction, water

    recycling and waste management.

    To achieve its environmental objectives and targets,

    AGPC works with its environmental packaging and

    waste recycling par tner, Cleanevent and has par tnered

    with Greenfeet who plant native trees in Victoria to

    absorb the carbon dioxide generated by the event.Cleanevent coordinate the use o recycled water or

    track surrounds and collect sor ted waste which is then,

    onprocessed and made into reusable raw materials.

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    Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan 20092012 13

    This audit led to the development o the Green Credentials

    Report which identies green initiatives undertaken by

    Melbournes Business Events suppliers towards reducing their

    carbon ootprint and highlights best practice.

    In addition, the new Melbourne Convention Centre building,

    which was opened in June 2009, has been built to a six star

    environmental rating. The Centre is the rst o its kind in the

    world and its environmental credentials are a major selling

    point in attracting international conerences.

    Wha will we ?

    TourismVictoriawillprepareanddistributeguidancenotesor event organisers on resource and water reduction

    and ways that they can measure their carbon ootprints.

    Events are also encouraged to be more sustainable by the

    incorporation o sustainability criteria in State Government

    unding applications.

    TourismVictoriawillencouragetheGrowMetheMoney

    and CarbonDown programs to incorporate inormation

    on environmentally sustainable tourism. This inormation

    will also be available to businesses through Tourism

    Victorias Tourism Excellence Program.

    Sustainabletourismpracticesareexpectedtobefeatured

    as a part o the new national Tourism Accreditation

    Framework system that will be released in 2010.

    Falls Festival, photography by Zak Kaczmarek

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    14

    Tourism businessesand destinations need

    to anticipate and adaptto the impacts of climatechange by assessingtheir exposure andtaking action to addressthese impacts.

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    Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan 20092012 15

    ASSISTINg ThE TOURISM INdUSTRy

    TO AdAPT TO cLIMATE chANgE

    Wh i hi ie ipa?

    Governments at all levels are undertaking signicant work

    on the challenge o climate change and the responses

    needed to mitigate its eects and adapt to its changes on

    the physical environment.

    At the Commonwealth level, the Carbon Pollution Reduction

    Scheme White Paper was released on 15 December 2008

    and work is currently underway or the commencement

    o the scheme on 1 July 2010. At the State level, the

    Victorian Government is currently undertaking work on thedevelopment o a Climate Change White Paper. Both o these

    initiatives include consideration o how to assist industry and

    business to adapt to climate change.

    CSIRO projections indicate that by the year 2070 Victoria

    will be approximately 0.75.0 degrees warmer than it was

    in 1990. This may increase the requency o severe weather

    throughout the State, which combined with decreased rainall,

    may lead to weather conducive to bushres, drought and

    other natural disasters.

    Tourism businesses and destinations need to anticipate and

    adapt to the impacts o climate change by assessing their

    exposure and taking action to address these impacts.

    Some challenges posed by climate change include:

    Insomeareas,theCSIROprojectionsindicatethatthere

    willbeuptothreetimesmorehotdays;

    SnowsportsinVictoriawillbeatriskfromshorterseasons

    andunreliablesnowcover;

    Rainfalldecreasesarestrongestinspring(downby25

    per cent in some areas) which may aect the natural

    beautyofdestinationsandcoulddecreasevisitation;and

    Weatherconditionsconducivetobushresanddrought

    could threaten tourist businesses and destinations.Regional and local tourism organisations that have been

    created through publicprivate partnerships are in an

    excellent position to encourage businesses to plan or

    sustainable tourism and climate change issues.

    Particular attention is required in regional areas which are

    most aected by climate change.

    Wha will we ?

    TourismVictoriawillengagewiththeCommonwealthand

    its State and Territory counterparts to provide a consistent

    national approach to tourism industry mitigation and

    adaptation initiatives. Tourism Victoria will also work in

    partnership with State Government agencies to ensure

    that tourism industry issues are ully considered in the

    development o Victorian Government policies and

    responses to climate change.

    AspartoftheGovernmentsbroadercommunicationson

    climate change, Tourism Victoria will include climate change

    issues in regular newsletter articles and create a dedicatedclimate change section on Tourism Victorias corporate

    website.

    TourismVictoriawillcontinuetoprovideadvicetoregional

    and local tourism managers on crisis preparedness and

    will release an Emergency Management Toolkit in October

    2009 to assist tourism businesses to plan or, respond to,

    and recover rom crisis events both manmade and natural.

    TourismVictoriawillcontinuetosupportVictoria

    Universitys Climate Change and Tourism Adaptation

    Research Project in the Great Ocean Road region to help

    develop knowledge o the impacts o climate change on

    the tourism industr y.

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    Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan 2009201216

    LEADING ThE WAY

    As the State Governments tourism agency, Tourism Victoria will

    continue to develop and promote sustainable tourism practices.

    Already, Tourism Victoria has undertaken or supported a

    number o key sustainable tourism activities including:

    CommissioningtheSTCRCtoundertakestudiestoassess

    the environmental attitudes and behaviour o Victorian

    tourism enterprises and the consumer perceptions o

    sustainablepractices;

    PartneringwiththeCityofMelbourneonSavingsinthe

    City, its innovative environmental program to help city

    hotelscutenergy,waterandwasteconsumption;

    CoordinatingandlaunchingthesustainabilitymoduleoftheTourismExcellenceprogram;

    IncorporatingasustainabilitysectionintothenewTourism

    InvestmentGuidelines;

    FormingandsupportingtheSustainableTourism

    Partnership;

    CommissioningaTourismDestinationCarbon

    Footprintstudy;

    DevelopingtheCrisisCommunicationsHandbookfor

    Regional and Local Tourism and associated pocket guide

    andworkshops;

    Incorporatingsustainabilitycr iteriaintoTourismVictoriasEventsFundingProgram;

    Embeddingsustainabilityasanunderlyingprincipleof

    TourismVictoriasBusinessPlan20072010;and

    Undertakingastudyintoidentifyingsustainabletourism

    businesses and promotion o these to consumers seeking

    this type o experience/product.

    The execution o this Plan in 20092012 builds on Tourism

    Victorias work in this area.

    High priority actions identied in this Strategic Plan to be

    undertaken in 20092012 are:

    Promotingbusinesseswhichdemonstrateenvironmental

    credentialsthroughaccreditationprograms;

    Developinganddistributingacarbonfootprinttoolkitfor

    usebybusinessesanddestinations;

    Developingandimplementingaresponsiblevisitor

    communications plan, including a responsible travel section

    onvisitvictoria.com; WorkingwiththeVictorianEmployersChamberof

    Commerce and Industry to ensure that tourism is

    an integral par t o the Grow Me the Money and

    CarbonDownprograms;

    Preparingguidancenotesforeventorganisersoncarbon

    footprintmeasurementandreductionstrategies;

    PromotingandcontinuingtoenhancetheSustainability

    in Tourism section o the Tourism Excellence program, in

    ordertoassistbusinessestobecomemoresustainable;and

    Providingadvicetoregionalandmetropolitantourism

    organisations on engaging with tourism businesses on

    sustainability matters, including climate change.

    Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan 20092012

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    17

    Tourism Victoria will continue

    to develop and promotesustainable tourism practices.

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    Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan 2009201218

    KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

    The above chart identies: the key challenges and

    opportunities addressed by the Environmentally Sustainable

    Tourism Strategic Plan 20092012;thedesiredoutcomes

    which will improve the tourism industrys perormance in

    theseareas;andthekeystrategiesbywhichthePlanwill

    encourage those outcomes. These strategies recognise that

    Tourism Victoria has a greater capacity to infuence outcomes

    in some areas relative to others and that other local, State

    and Federal Government agencies, consumers and industry

    itsel also have a cr itical role to play.

    CHALLEnGEs &oPPortunItIEs

    dEsIrEdoutComEs

    KEydIrECtIons

    mEAsurEsoF suCCEss

    KEyACtIons

    Reducing the tourism

    industrys carbon ootprint

    Decreased per capita carbon

    output rom tourism activity

    Promote awareness o

    carbon ootprints to

    businesses and regions

    Increase in number o

    regional tourism managers

    and businesses using the

    carbon ootprinting toolkit

    Finalise and distribute toolkit

    Encourage business and

    regional uptake o carbon

    reduction opportunities

    Increase in number o tourism

    businesses participating

    in carbon measurement,

    reduction and oset programs

    Promote Grow Me the

    Money and CarbonDown

    and other key State

    Government initiatives.

    Promote appropriate

    opportunities or lower

    emissions transport

    Provide a leadership role Tourism Victoria will audit

    its carbon ootprint and

    implement a carbon reduction

    program

    Develop and implement

    Tourism Victoria carbon

    reduction strategy

    Work with transport

    stakeholders to support

    carbon reduction initiatives

    Meeting growing consumer

    demand or sustainable

    practices

    Sucient Victorian tourism

    industry product to meet

    consumer demand or

    sustainable tourism

    Increase in the number o

    businesses with credible

    environmentally riendly

    business practices

    Increase in number o tourism

    businesses participating

    in carbon measurement,

    reduction and oset programs

    Increase in recognition o

    leading environmentally

    riendly tourism businesses

    Promote Grow Me the

    Money and CarbonDown

    and other key State

    Government initiatives

    Actively promote tourism

    rms with endorsed

    environmental accreditation

    Increase skills relating to

    environmentally riendlypractices across Victorian

    tourism bodies

    Increase in number o industry

    proessionals with expertise insustainability issues

    Include sustainability issues

    in proessional developmentprograms

    Increase in consumer

    awareness o sustainability

    issues

    Increase in number o

    consumers seeking sustainable

    experiences and acting in a

    more environmentally riendly

    manner

    Establish responsible traveller

    section o website

    Develop and implement

    responsible traveller

    campaign

    Develop responsible traveller

    resources or businesses

    Improving business

    perormance through

    sustainable tourism and

    marketing the Victorian

    tourism industrys

    environmental credentials

    Increased opportunities

    or consumers to link with

    environmentally riendly

    businesses

    Increased consumer

    awareness o environmentally

    riendly businesses

    Increase in presence o

    environmentally riendly

    tourism businesses in Tourism

    Victoria promotional material

    Enhance environmentally

    riendly business presence

    on website and in other

    promotional material

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    Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan 20092012 19

    CHALLEnGEs &oPPortunItIEs

    dEsIrEdoutComEs

    KEydIrECtIons

    mEAsurEsoF suCCEss

    KEyACtIons

    Developing partnerships and

    rameworks

    A coordinated approach

    to tourism sustainability

    issues across the Victorian

    Government and industry

    Tourism sustainability issues

    are ully considered in broader

    Government activities

    Held quarterly meetings

    with the Sustainable Tourism

    Partnership

    Work with other agencies

    Support the Sustainable

    Tourism Par tnership

    Tourism sustainability activities

    are coordinated with industry

    Open communication with

    the industry on sustainability

    issues

    Support the Sustainable

    Tourism Par tnership

    Minimising resource use and

    the production o waste

    Decreased per capita

    resource use rom tourism

    activity

    Increase in the number o

    tourism businesses with

    credible environmentally

    riendly business practices

    Increase in the number

    o tourism businesses

    participating in environmental

    improvement programs

    Increase in number otourism businesses with

    Tourism Victoria endorsed

    environmental accreditation

    Promote Grow Me the

    Money and CarbonDown

    and other key State

    Government initiatives

    Develop and publish apolicy on endorsement o

    environmental accreditation

    programs

    Environmentally riendly

    tourism business practices

    included in accreditation

    programs

    Increase in number o

    accreditation programs with

    sustainability modules, and

    quality o modules

    Work with accreditation

    programs to increase the

    ocus on environmental

    sustainability

    Assisting the tourism industry

    to adapt to climate change

    Victorian tourism industry is

    positioned to meet physical

    and economic challenges

    arising rom climate change

    Tourism industr y issues

    considered in State and

    Commonwealth climate

    change strategies

    Tourism industr y recognised

    in relevant Commonwealth

    and State strategies

    Engage with State and

    Commonwealth counterparts

    Increase business and industry

    awareness o climate change

    challenges and issues

    Number o businesses actively

    seeking advice on adaptation

    to climate change issues

    Communication activities

    Disseminate Emergency

    Management Toolkit

    Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan 20092012

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    Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan 2009201220

    APPENDIx

    The ollowing is a list o certication

    programs, rebates and unding

    opportunities and support programs.

    cERTIfIcATION PROgRAMS

    Green Globe

    Green Globe is a global benchmarking

    and certication system assisting the

    international travel and tourism industry

    to attain sustainability. Green Globe

    promotes responsible tourism through

    the management o environmental

    impacts around climate change, waterand waste management.

    www.ec3global.com

    Tel (07) 3238 1900

    Ecocertication

    The Eco Certication Program identies

    genuine ecotourism and nature tourism

    operators across Australia and provides

    industry, protected area managers,

    local communities and travellers with

    an assurance that a certied product

    is backed by a commitment to best

    practice ecological sustainability, naturalarea management and the provision o

    quality ecotourism experiences.

    www.ecotourism.org.au

    Tel (07) 3252 1530

    Climate Action

    Certication Program

    The Climate Action Certication

    Program is dedicated to ranking eorts

    to reduce carbon emissions. It is

    designed or all sectors o the tourism

    industry, regardless o size and level o

    carbon reduction already undertaken.It includes the tourism hotels,

    attractions, tours, transport, restaurants,

    travel agents, tourism commissions and

    industry bodies.

    This certication scheme is a user

    riendly, online questionnaire with on

    line instant help desk, and automatic

    ltering so businesses only deal with

    relevant questions.

    www.sustainabletourismaustralia.com

    Tel (07) 3252 1530

    Australian Tourism

    Accreditation Program (ATAP)

    Whilst not primarily an environmental

    accreditation program, ATAP oers useul

    tips and inormation on holistic business

    development including environmental

    and cultural sustainable practices.

    www.tourismaccreditationvic.com.au

    Tel (03) 9620 4199

    REBATES ANd fUNdINg

    OPPORTUNITIES

    Smart Water Fund

    The Smart Water Fund provides

    unding or innovative projects in water

    recycling, water conservation and

    biosolids management in metropolitan

    and regional urban Victoria.

    www.smartwater.com.au

    Tel 1800 882 432

    Sustainability Fund

    The Sustainability Fund is designed to

    support projects that oster sustainable

    resource use and have economic andsocial benets or Victorians. Projects

    supported by the und are working

    to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

    rom dairy arms, establish recycling

    systems in high-rise apartments,

    create parklands rom old landll sites,

    conduct research into solar powered

    rail, deliver sustainability workshops or

    small business and reduce energy use

    rom domestic water heating and air-

    conditioning.

    The Fund also supports sustainability

    projects in Neighbourhood RenewalAreas, projects outlined in the

    Environmental Sustainability Action

    Statement (ESAS) and projects in

    partnership with local councils through

    the Sustainability Accord.

    [email protected]

    SUPPORT PROgRAMS

    Grow Me The Money

    This program is designed or small to

    medium sized businesses, operating in

    regional or metropolitan areas.

    Many businesses are conscious o their

    environmental ootprint and are eager

    to begin implementing environmentally

    riendly practices but aren't sure where

    to start. Grow Me The Money guides

    small to medium sized businesses

    through the steps necessary to

    become more sustainable and benet

    rom their eorts.

    Grow Me The Money is best suited

    to businesses that have access to their

    energy and water bills and have been

    operating or at least 12 months.

    www.growmethemoney.com.au

    VIC1000

    VIC 1000 is a pilot sustainable business

    management program working with

    1000 small to medium size enterprises in

    ve regions throughout Victoria. Through

    better understanding o their business

    operations, participating businesses

    are empowered to reduce their level

    o environmental impact, while at the

    same time saving signicant amounts on

    their operating costs. Working with local

    councils and trader groups to develop

    communal strategies, the program brings

    benets to both the businesses and

    residents o local communities.

    www.villagegreen.com.au

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    Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan 20092012 21

    Waste Wise

    The Waste Wise Business program

    provides resources and support or

    businesses to improve their waste

    management practices and reduce the

    volume o landll waste. Businesses

    can apply or Waste Wise certication

    which is a great way o demonstrating

    achievements to guests and sta.

    Certied organisations also have

    opportunities or publicity through

    workshops, orums, newsletters, website

    and published case studies.The program is managed by Sustainability

    Victoria and delivered by experienced

    acilitators rom within Sustainability

    Victoria and Regional Waste

    Management Groups around Victoria.

    www.sustainability.vic.gov.au

    Tel (03) 8626 8700

    Gumnut Awards

    The Gumnut Awards is a progressive

    rating scheme or holiday, tourist

    and residential parks that recognise

    a commitment to environmentalsustainability and social responsibility.

    Parks are granted a Gold, Silver or

    Bronze Award based on their level

    o achievement in environmental

    management.

    www.gumnutawards.com.au

    Keep Winter Cool

    The Keep Winter Cool initiative aims

    to raise community awareness o the

    potential eects o climate change on

    alpine environments and snow sports

    and demonstrate a commitment

    by alpine area managers and snowsport industries to reduce their own

    greenhouse gas emissions.

    www.keepwintercool.com.au

    Victorian Tourism Awards

    QantasAwardforExcellence

    in Sustainable Tourism

    This category is open to tourism

    operators that exempliy a strong

    commitment to sustainable and

    innovative business practices. The award

    recognises and showcases successul

    tourism businesses that set out to

    minimise their environmental impact,

    conserve natural resources, respect local

    cultures and benet local communities.

    www.victoriantourismawards.com.au

    Carbon Innovators NETWORk

    EPA Victoria has been approached

    by a number o businesses or

    support and advice on climate change.

    In response, EPA has established the

    Carbon Innovators Network a

    network or business leaders and

    climate change experts.

    EPA will help organisations strategically

    and practically address their carbon

    emissions, and in doing so transorm

    climate change rom a business costto a business opportunity. We want

    to stimulate debate and innovation

    in carbon management and provide

    the support and tools businesses

    require to develop appropriate carbon

    management strategies.

    www.epa.vic.gov.au

    Resource Smart Business

    Sustainability Victoria is helping to assist

    Victorian businesses identiy, design and

    implement sustainable energy solutions.

    For more inormation on these

    initiatives visit Sustainability Victoria.

    www.sustainability.vic.gov.au

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    Published by the Victorian Government, Melbourne, Victoria This Plan is printed on Tudor High White paper using computer