How we all win from national ecotourism accreditation

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Some people in ecotourism agonise about accreditation. What is the value of accreditation?  Ask yourself this – would you rather go on tour with someone who is nationally accredited or someone who has no accreditation for the industry they work in? People often ask me about ecotourism accreditation. What is it and what are the benefits? Well I can tell you that from a customer point of view it lets people know that you are a trusted provider of ecotourism services and that you meet high level standards (advanced ecotourism). A little bit like trust the tick except far more specialised. From an industry point of view it helps to separate amateurs from professionals and also acknowledges organisations who practice responsible low impact activities. Make no mistake,  it is a long and costly process but worthwhile if you plan to be around for the long term and you care about the environment. “Tourism operators in Australia who have their tour, attraction or accommodation accredited under the ECO Certification Program can genuinely claim to provide authentic ecotourism product.” There is also a public database so you can check the level of accreditation of ecotourism providers.