Seek accreditation

Undertaking certification and accreditation programs helps you demonstrate your commitment to environmental, cultural and social sustainability while keeping you focused and accountable.

While the initial application process may require time and effort, the ongoing maintenance and progression of these programs are generally easier to manage.

Accreditation and certification programs also provide you access to benchmarking materials for continuous monitoring and improvement, helping you to achieve best practice and excellence in tourism.

Pathway programs

Ecotourism Australia and EarthCheck offer pathway programs that are a great start for businesses wanting to begin their sustainability journey or as a precursor to an accreditation or certification.

  • Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard
    A program by Ecotourism Australia, the scorecard measures where a business is at and provides a scorecard they can publicly display with a comprehensive report offering advice on key areas of improvement.
    Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard
  • Micro-credential courses in sustainability
    EarthCheck have partnered with Typsy to offer tourism businesses three online training modules covering different aspects of sustainability and responsible tourism.
    Typsy + EarthCheck
Walking
Uluru with local guide

Accreditations and certification

The next step is to consider investing in an accreditation or certification program. There are many benefits, including assuring travellers and booking agents that your products or experiences are backed by a strong, well-managed commitment to sustainable practices and are high-quality, low impact tourism experiences.

  • Ecotourism Australia
    Ecotourism Australia is the peak body for ecotourism in Australia. They connect, champion, inspire and inform through strategic partnerships and global best practice standards and offer a range of certifications including ECO Certification, Sustainable Tourism Certification, Climate Action Certification, and Respecting our Culture Certification (ROC). They are recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
    Sustainable Tourism | Ecotourism Australia
  • EarthCheck
    Earth Check work with governments, businesses and destinations to deliver science-backed, strategic and sustainable outcomes. They offer sustainability certifications for tourism businesses, hotels, destinations, governments, parks, and events. They are recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. 
    EarthCheck - Good For Business, Good For The Planet
  • Climate Active
    Climate Active represents Australia’s collective effort to measure, reduce, and offset carbon emissions to lessen negative impact on the environment. Their certification encourages industry to go beyond standard practice and set themselves apart as climate champions. 
    Certification | Climate Active
  • GreenStep Sustainable Tourism
    GreenStep provides assessments, programs, and certifications to help tourism destinations and businesses measure and improve their sustainability performance. They offer assessment tools and support programs to help businesses reach their certification goals. They are recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
    Certification | GreenStep Sustainable Tourism
  • Preferred by Nature
    Preferred by Nature supports better land management and business practices that benefit people, nature and the climate. They do this through a combination of sustainability certification services, projects supporting awareness raising, and capacity building. They are recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
    Sustainable Tourism certification | Preferred by Nature | Global
  • Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC)
    ATIC is the national representative body for tourism and own the Quality Tourism Framework, which is an accreditation program that enables you to develop your business from start-up through to niche markets and international trade channels, in order to develop a sustainable tourism business that can compete and prosper. They offer a range of accreditations including Sustainable Tourism and EcoStar Accreditation.
    Quality Tourism Programs - Quality Tourism Australia
Page last updated on 08 August 2023