Media Release  


4 December 2007

Ecotourism Australia and the ACCC Work Together to Protect the Environmental Industry

The Queensland Supreme Court has granted Ecotourism Australia a number of interlocutory court orders against Trek North Safaris designed to protect Ecotourism Australia’s intellectual property and protect the public from potentially misleading environmental marketing.

Founded in 1991, Ecotourism Australia operates a globally recognised ECO Certification Program. The ECO Certification Program provides industry certification to those ecotourism and nature tourism operators in Australia which have been personally assessed by Ecotourism Australia to have established their commitment to best practice ecological sustainability, natural area management and the provision of quality ecotourism experiences.

It had recently come to Ecotourism Australia’s attention that its ECO Certification Logo was being used, without permission, by Trek North Safaris. Operating in the Cairns area, Trek North Safaris is not a member of the ECO Certification Program and is not certified by Ecotourism Australia.

On 19 November 2007 Her Honour Justice Mullins made interim orders against Trek North Safaris, requiring it to:

  • cease any and all use of the Ecotourism Australia’s ECO Certification Logo;
  • deliver up or destroy on oath all items in Trek North Safaris’ possession which depicts Ecotourism Australia’s Eco Certification Logo; and
  • pay Ecotourism Australia’s legal costs.

Ecotourism Australia acknowledges and appreciates the great assistance of the ACCC in its action against Trek North Safari.

This is an important victory for not only for Ecotourism Australia but also for the over 800 businesses nationwide that have received its ECO Certification.

Australia is a nation that has immense natural beauty. From unspoilt beaches along the coastline to the red sandy deserts in the outback and the amazing green rainforests, mountain ranges and wildlife that can be found in between – it is undeniable that ecotourism in Australia serves a huge tourist market and because of this it is important to protect the reputation and high standards of quality that are associated with environmental organisations such as Ecotourism Australia and its ECO Certification Program.

Ecotourism Australia is the peak national body for the ecotourism industry.  It aims to grow and promote ecotourism and to assist tourism operators to become environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially and culturally responsible. 

It is a non-profit organisation with membership that includes tour operators, ecotourism accommodation, tourism planners, protected area managers, academics and students, regional tourism associations and travellers.

Ecotourism Australia’s certification program is a world first.  It provides objective monitoring and auditing of organisations’ ecotourism claims and provides travel agents and tourists with an assurance of best practice ecological sustainability, natural area management and quality ecotourism experiences.


ENDS

For more information contact:
Kym Cheatham, Chief Executive Officer,
Ecotourism Australia
E: ceo@ecotourism.org.au M: 0427 279 414
www.ecotourism.org.au
ABN 92 909 103 274

The Ecotourism Australia vision: "To be leaders in assisting ecotourism and other committed tourism operations to become environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially and culturally responsible".
Ecotourism Australia was formed in 1991 as an incorporated non-profit organisation, and is the peak national body for the ecotourism industry. Ecotourism Australia aims to grow and promote ecotourism and to assist tourism operators to become environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially and culturally responsible.

Membership includes tour operators, ecotourism accommodation, tourism planners, protected area managers, academics and students, regional tourism associations and travellers.
Ecotourism Australia’s certification program ECO is a world first. It provides objective monitoring and auditing of organisations’ ecotourism claims and provides travel agents and tourists with an assurance of best practice ecological sustainability, natural area management and quality ecotourism experiences.

Ecotourism Australia recently added ROC (Respect Our Culture) Certification for Indigenous Tourism operators and Climate Action Australia Certification to help the tourism industry work towards a more sustainable future.

In 2008, Ecotourism Australia was awarded the prestigious World Travel and Tourism Council “Tourism for Tomorrow” Award for Conservation at the World Tourism Summit in recognition of Ecotourism Australia’s significant contribution to the conservation and preservation of natural heritage.