Ecotourism Australia kicked off its inaugural Global Sustainable Tourism Summit in Meanjin (Brisbane) on Wednesday. The two-day event, held at the Pullman Mercure Hotel in King George Square—one of Australia’s first hotels to receive Sustainable Tourism Certification from Ecotourism Australia—aims to inspire and empower tourism businesses by focusing on sustainability. Ecotourism Australia Launches Inaugural Global Sustainable Tourism Summit in Meanjin
The summit’s second session featured presentations on key topics, including “Ecotourism as a Transition Economy” by Cliff Cobbo, First Nations Principal Advisor at WWF-Australia, and “Tourism and Positive Socio-Economic Impact” by Matt Cameron-Smith, CEO of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia.
Ecotourism as a Transition Economy
Cliff Cobbo, a proud Wakka Wakka man from Southern Queensland and First Nations Principal Advisor at WWF-Australia, emphasized the importance of land management and cultural care. WWF has partnered with Ecotourism Australia on numerous projects, such as responding to the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20 to help rebuild affected communities.
“We need to translate our words into actions and, more importantly, translate our values into actions,” Cobbo said. He highlighted issues like climate change, flora and fauna extinction, and other biodiversity topics as central to these values. Cobbo noted that Australia’s high rates of deforestation starkly contrast with its rich biodiversity.
“Our mission often conflicts with industries that prioritize short-term interests over the long-term health of the country,” he stated. “The only way to achieve long-term conservation success is to bring the community along and help them meet their economic needs.”
Cliff Cobbo. (Image: WWF)
Tourism and Positive Socio-Economic Impact
Matt Cameron-Smith discussed the importance of working with the Anangu community, the Traditional Owners of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. As a director of the Anangu Communities Foundation, a charitable trust established by Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, Cameron-Smith works to fund projects in the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara, and Yankunytjatjara (NPY) region in Central Australia. These projects aim to address inequity and demonstrate positive outcomes for Anangu communities.
Ayres Rock Resort operates on Anangu land, providing numerous opportunities for Traditional Owners to work and share their culture with visitors. “Every guest we have makes an economic impact on the community,” Cameron-Smith said. “We want to elevate and amplify culture, but importantly, have those who own the culture share their stories.”
He also noted the significant increase in Indigenous employment at Ayres Rock Resort, with 215 Indigenous employees currently, and the potential for more due to Virgin Australia’s resumption of flights to Uluru, which were initially canceled due to COVID-19.
Matt Cameron-Smith. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)
Bridging Sustainability and Tourism
Nicola Angell, General Manager of Programs for Marra Worra Worra, described the project to the National Indigenous Times as “a beautiful project about inspiring and empowering women in the Fitzroy Valley.”
The Marni Project, aligning with this year’s NAIDOC Theme, “Keep the fire burning – Blak, Loud and Proud!”, was funded by the WA and federal governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding arrangements.
This summit is a significant step towards integrating sustainable practices in tourism, highlighting the crucial role of Indigenous communities in preserving culture and biodiversity while fostering economic growth.
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