City of Moreton Bay recognised as sustainable tourism destination
Published 22 August 2024
In an important milestone, City of Moreton Bay has achieved Sustainable Destination Silver Certification from the world’s leading scientific benchmarking certification and advisory group for sustainable travel and tourism, EarthCheck.
The sustainability certification is used by leading international destinations and highlights the sustainability leadership expected by tourism stakeholders.
Mayor Peter Flannery said the certification was a significant achievement for City of Moreton Bay’s commitment to preserving its natural and cultural environments.
“Our communities tell us that Moreton Bay’s natural wonders are core to our City’s great liveability.
“We have made a commitment to ensure environmental sustainability and community wellbeing is prioritised so it’s wonderful to see this being recognised by a global leader such as Earthcheck.
“We’ve worked hard to affirm that City of Moreton Bay, and our local tourism industry, demonstrate environmental stewardship.
“Our proven practices and vision as a sustainable destination are now recognised at an international level and this positions City of Moreton Bay as a destination of choice for nature-based and sustainable destination experiences.
“This is particularly important as we head into 2032, with the expected influx of international travellers coming to South East Queensland for the Olympics and Paralympics, who are looking for authentic and eco-conscious experiences.”
The Earthcheck certification involved 14 months of hard work with rigorous assessment of guiding documents, practices and initiatives that commit to the sustainable management of the City’s natural, cultural and built environment, as well as an intensive audit to validate our approach to sustainable destination management.
The certification process was funded through the Queensland Government’s Department of Tourism and Sport’s Eco-certified Tourism Destination Program Grant Fund.
Minister for Tourism Michael Healy said this certification helped bring even more eyes to the great tourism experiences in the area.
“The Queensland Government is working to position Queensland and our tourism destinations as leaders in sustainable tourism. It is great to see City of Moreton Bay has achieved ECO Destination Certification under the program, which provided up to $150,000 to eligible applicants to achieve certification.
“In line with Towards Tourism 2032, this program will help our tourism destinations meet a growing demand from tourists for the places they visit to prioritise low impact travel, high quality nature-based experiences and an ongoing commitment to sustainability.”
Moreton Bay Region Industry & Tourism (MBRIT) CEO, Natassia Wheeler, said the certification signals to businesses and tourism operators that City of Moreton Bay is on journey of sustainable tourism management with them, and supports their sustainability goals and ambitions.
Stewart Moore, CEO and Founder of EarthCheck, said City of Moreton Bay has taken a significant leadership position in sustainability.
“I would like to congratulate the whole team at City of Moreton Bay on their achievement. City of Moreton Bay is a valued member of a group of Leading Destinations of the World who dare to make a difference,” Mr Moore said.
City of Moreton Bay has joined leading communities around the world who are taking meaningful steps towards resolving some of the very real issues that face the planet.
Local businesses can reach out to economic@moretonbay.qld.gov.au to learn more and get involved.