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Eco-certified Tourism Destination Program

Supporting Queensland destinations to achieve globally recognised certification as a sustainable tourism destination.

About the program

The Eco-certified Tourism Destination Program (the program) provides grant funding of up to $150,000 to Queensland local government authorities and regional and local tourism organisations to support our tourism destinations to achieve globally recognised certification through either:

The program is a key initiative in response to the Towards 2032: Reshaping Queensland’s visitor economy to welcome the world (PDF, 18.1MB) report, which identifies sustainability as a key catalyst for change, and forms part of the next long-term Towards Tourism 2032 strategy.

The program is designed to:

  • position Queensland to become a leader in sustainable tourism
  • leverage the growth potential in nature-based tourism experiences
  • support the actions required to achieve a Climate Positive Olympics in 2032 and the target of net zero emissions by 2050.

Recipients

Through a competitive assessment process, 11 destinations were awarded funding to support their certification.

Recipient nameDestination Certification program
Brisbane Economic Development Agency Brisbane EarthCheck Sustainable Destination Standard program
Bundaberg Regional Council Bundaberg Ecotourism Australia ECO Destination Certification program
Cassowary Coast Regional Council Cassowary Coast Ecotourism Australia ECO Destination Certification program
Etheridge Shire Council Etheridge Shire EarthCheck Sustainable Destination Standard program
Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Limited Gladstone Region Ecotourism Australia ECO Destination Certification program
Livingstone Shire Council Capricorn Coast Ecotourism Australia ECO Destination Certification program
City of Moreton Bay City of Moreton Bay EarthCheck Sustainable Destination Standard program
Murweh Shire Council Murweh Shire EarthCheck Sustainable Destination Standard program
Noosa Shire Council Noosa Shire EarthCheck Sustainable Destination Standard program
Scenic Rim Regional Council Scenic Rim Ecotourism Australia ECO Destination Certification program
Townsville City Council Townsville Ecotourism Australia ECO Destination Certification program

Objectives

The objectives of the program are to:

  • fast-track the certification for destinations already engaged in either of the two globally recognised certification programs
  • support new destinations to join the certification programs and achieve certification
  • support certified destinations to attain a higher level of certification
  • build a network of globally recognised certified destinations throughout Queensland.

For grant recipients, funding will support them to achieve a level of destination certification that will:

  • help deliver improvements to sustainable practises
  • better position the destination as a sustainable, low carbon and climate resilient tourism destination
  • enable them to be responsive to changing visitor needs and grow and adapt to future demand for high-quality nature-based tourism experiences.

Grant details

The Eco-certified Tourism Destination Program Guidelines (PDF, 1.4MB) contain detailed information regarding the grant funding program.

Applications have now closed and the Program is fully subscribed.

More information

Email tourismgrants@dtis.qld.gov.au.

Last updated: 03 Nov 2022