April 2, 2025 • 17 mins
In this enlightening episode of the Tourism Hub Podcast, host Despina Karatzias sits down with ne Lewis from Ecotourism Australia to discuss the vital intersection of agritourism and sustainable practices. Corinne shares her experiences from the recent ART conference, highlighting the inspiring stories of local farmers who are blending their agricultural roots with tourism, all while navigating the unique challenges of this evolving sector.
Listeners will gain insights into the certification process offered by Ecotourism Australia, which helps operators understand their sustainability journey through a structured scorecard system. Corinne emphasises the importance of not just achieving certification but also effectively communicating these sustainable practices to potential travellers. She encourages operators to showcase their commitment to sustainability and community engagement, reinforcing that it's not merely about having a certificate, but about embodying these values in every aspect of their business.
As the conversation unfolds, the episode explores the growing demand for authentic travel experiences and the role of local communities in shaping these offerings. Corinne's passion for supporting both small operators and larger hotel chains in their sustainability efforts shines through, making this episode a must-listen for anyone in the tourism industry looking to innovate and thrive.
00:52 - Highlights from the Agritourism Conference
01:37 - Challenges and Opportunities in Agritourism
02:29 - Sustainable Practices in Agritourism
04:00 - Ecotourism Australia's Certification Programs
04:47 - The Certification Process and Its Benefits
07:04 - Destination Certification and Regional Collaboration
09:35 - Marketing and Leveraging Certification
10:55 - The Importance of Community and Collaboration
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
>> Despina Karatzias (00:05):
Welcome to the Tourism Hub Podcast, a podcast devoted
to you and your excellence,
providing inspiration and education for the
entrepreneurs, experience makers and
excellent seekers of our industry to take
your tourism business and career to a whole new
level.
(00:30):
Top of the morning, everybody. Top of the morning to my special
guest. Day two. Thank you. Good morning.
Good morning. Corinne Lewis here from
Ecotourism Australia. Thank you for joining me.
Thank you for being brave and saying yes. It's your
first time to art.
>> Corinne Lewis (00:45):
It is. I haven't been to the art conference before,
so fantastic experience so far.
>> Despina Karatzias (00:51):
Yeah. what has been a real key highlight for you because you
actually came earlier at the ta, Agri
Tourism day too. What have been some of your
highlights from the art convention?
>> Corinne Lewis (01:02):
Yeah, so having the Agri tourism tagged onto the art
conference was fantastic. So day one,
the afternoon, I found it really,
I guess, inspiring and just
a really fresh insight into
the people on the ground. So some of the
speakers were cattle farmers from
Tasmania, a young lady that
(01:24):
runs a small family hobby farm with
cattle and pigs, and the lady
from, Sydney oyster farm. and just really, I guess, hearing from
people on the ground that are pursuing
or interested in pursuing the agritourism angle and just
the challenges, but also the opportunities
of mixing their agricultural
roots and the core of their farming business
(01:47):
with the potential of tourism. And they were all
at different stages in the journey
and really interesting to see that it's not as simple
as popping a cabin on your paddock or having some
people come to the farm. They've got real challenges with
insurances and taxes and grants and all sorts of things
with that transition. So I just found it,
yeah, really insightful and refreshing hearing
(02:09):
from the people on the ground and just that
insight into agritourism. Yeah.
>> Despina Karatzias (02:15):
Oh, it's definitely been. It's been just
that. It's been an insight and it's, you kind of see
this space evolving and it was just
great to have that tagged on, as you mentioned.
And it is also, it's in light
of sustainable practises.
It's all aligned as well, you know, I mean,
(02:35):
I think these are, operators that, you
know, are well and truly, that's something that they've probably,
you know, well before their time have been practising
sustainably.
>> Corinne Lewis (02:45):
Absolutely. So, you know, sustainable farm
practises and sustainable living in general is
just core to who they are and how they run their operation.
So that sort of transition to
sustainable tourism as a part of their
farming experience is a natural transition
for them, but still some different challenges from
a traditional Tour operator who
(03:07):
you know might go through one of our programmes and
you know is, is really growing their business in. In a
sustainable or to become eco tourism
certified. Yeah, lots of parallels but also some
really different.
>> Despina Karatzias (03:20):
Oh, we heard from Rose yesterday and she was even
just from planning and you know,
like even for planning and permits
to do, you know, you know you want to innovate, you want to
do something different. But there are some barriers to
entry to do that.
And speaking of not so many
barriers to entry in more and more. I
(03:43):
mean the team has been busy all over the
country so it's great we got to, you know everybody.
There's a lot of conventions and conferences and world global
summits and having really great representations
for Ecotourism Australia. Yes. And the
work that you do and I love with the
certification and the, I guess the
accreditations that Ecotourism M Australia,
(04:06):
this kind of like there's something for everybody
in all areas of the distribution
channel per se. Now a lot here are
destination certified. I know there's a lot here that are
thinking about going down that path.
I know a lot of operators that are doing the strive
for sustainability. What would you say someone that's,
(04:27):
you know, also behind the scenes reviewing your
applications, submissions for
certification. What are some things that anyone
that is thinking that's a lot of work like
I've like to go down that path. What would you
say?
>> Corinne Lewis (04:41):
Yeah, well as you said, there's
Ecotourism Australia has been around for a long time.
The core of our certification is based on the
global sustainable tourism criteria.
So it is globally recognised and we also
were the father to take those global criteria
and create a certification programme. So
(05:02):
traditionally we were eco certification, so
working with all of the fantastic, mostly
small to sort of medium tourism operators that are
immersed in nature and that
sustainability and that eco tourism is just core
to who they are. So that's sort of been our our traditional
journey with the industry
(05:22):
scorecard for or Strive for sustainability, or the
scorecard as we call it, was introduced
to enable people to do exactly
that, have a taste of the certification
process. So they're still using the same
portal application process as
certification. but rather than
a journey, it's a snapshot. So they'll jump
(05:44):
onto the portal and answer the questions honestly
as their business exists that day.
So if they have a business plan, if they don't, if they've
got an environmental plan, if they don't, if they're doing
the sustainable practises or they aren't answer,
the questions in that way and get some really great
feedback from the team as to what
(06:04):
they can do next and how they can improve and they end up with a
score, a percentage out of 100. So it gives them a really
good idea where am I? Am I right at
the beginning of my journey and I've got a lot to do or, or oh
wow, I got 75, 90%
I'm really ready for certification.
So it's a really great stepping stone into
(06:24):
the certification programme. So in
certification then they can go down the eco certification
path if they're a nature based operator. and we've now got a
sustainable tourism certification programme which
has opened up urban based operators to be
able to complete. So you know
all of the big hotel chains, we've got Accor and
(06:44):
Marriott on board now so it's great to see
the big guys in tourism also doing
everything they can to be
sustainable. And then as you mentioned, a great
programme working with destinations. So
entire regions are now working with us. We've
currently got 11 regions certified
so they go through a slightly different programme.
(07:07):
It's a long process. It's really a strong
relationship between the destination and
ecotourism Australia as it is with our operators
and we just really work closely
together to help whether it's an operator or whether it's
a destination. Just work their way through the
process, put all of the practises in place until
(07:28):
they're at a stage where they're compliant and we
believe that when the third party auditor goes in that, that
they'll achieve certification. So we're very much
nurturing, supporting, providing
tools and guidance. Whether you're a small
operator, a big hotel chain or a destination,
our job is to support and coach you through
to certification. And you know, moving forward
(07:50):
that certification is just going to mean more and be more
valuable. As you know the world is really
focused on being anti greenwashing. You know you can
have that, that certificate with pride knowing that
you are running your business in line with global
best practise. So yeah, it's a brilliant, it's
a brilliant process and I get feedback all the
(08:11):
time from operators just saying even if
they weren't perfect, what a great business development
tool it was to go through the process and go wow, we are
doing all these great things or oh wow, we haven't thought of that
and how amazing if we can put those things into
practise.
>> Despina Karatzias (08:26):
I can agree with that. It's definitely in for my
own business. I've got, I've registered, it's A goal,
like I said, My 2024 goal. But
I know anything, anything like this makes you better,
huh? But as a collective, even as a destination
and you. Yeah, that was my next question. How do you
measure that? But you do work with partners to come in
(08:46):
to help you with the audit for a
destination certification. So everything is
credibly certified with that global
staff.
>> Corinne Lewis (08:56):
Yeah. So for the integrity of the programme, because
we're so involved with our operators and our
destinations in helping them through the process, for the
integrity of the programme, we need those professional third
party auditors to go in and with fresh eyes
and actually confirm
compliance and certification. So
everybody, you know, understands that it's really authentic and
(09:17):
genuine. And yeah, the audits
are carried out by the third party professionals and
also business development.
>> Despina Karatzias (09:24):
But what a great. And I think there's
more to be done here and I'll tell
you in terms of using it as
a real like leveraging that
unique point of difference that it can make
to your business by having an
Ecotourism Australia certification. So I think
sometimes that can be that can
(09:47):
that step after you've achieved and
received that, that step to say, well, how am I
going to let everyone know?
How will I have this? You know, and some are doing
it really well. And I only say this because, I mean I'm running a
session on AI and I did, you
know, trying to build content on the context of
(10:07):
eco. But it's interesting what the AI
spat out at me now.
It was some. Was even not, you know, it was
not. You have to cheque it, it wasn't true. But the
ones that were ECO and had the
certification, I think, wow. There was so much more that
could have been done. Give it a dedicated
(10:27):
page.
>> Corinne Lewis (10:28):
Yes.
>> Despina Karatzias (10:28):
Not just put the logo on the bottom of your
website. No. You know, not even
a Google crawler for SEO is really going to
recognise that. So yeah, it was just something
that came to I think for all of these, you know, for all the services
certification that post marketing opportunity.
>> Corinne Lewis (10:45):
Yes.
So I guess we've just spent, you know,
two and a half going on for three days immersed in this
amazing conference where we've heard so much
about, you know, the importance of working with
community, the importance of working with culture
and the fact that the travelling public are
looking for tourism operators
(11:06):
that represent their own ethos. So
travellers are conscious about wanting
to visit places and
have authentic experiences and really meaningful
experiences and make positive impacts
and maybe leave that place better than.
So, it's not just a sticker it's not just a
certificate. It says to the travelling
(11:28):
public, I, am committed to
my sustainability, use sustainable
and eco practises throughout everything. So we
are, we, our businesses,
all in line, all our plans are in line, so we run the
sustainable business. We're not going to go broke tomorrow.
Obviously, all of the environmental stuff, all of the
waste and the emissions management and all of those
(11:51):
things that we traditionally think are, eco. But through the
programme, they also need to show that they're working with
their local community, that they're engaged, that they're
supportive, that they share, that they source their
products locally, that they employ locally,
and that they also very much engaged
in the traditional owners of the area where
(12:11):
they draw their business and where they gain their income.
So very much about not sharing stories that
aren't theirs to share, but engaging with the,
indigenous landowners and either bringing
them into their product, introducing their
customers to indigenous product, or even just
as simple as an acknowledgement of and
putting their staff through training programmes.
(12:34):
So the whole process is a
really holistic view of sustainability
and exactly what you said, we encourage all of our
operators to not hide that, to have
a sustainability page that says, we recycle, we
manage our water, we manage our environment, we take care of
our environment, we work with our community, we
(12:54):
work with our cultural indigenous landowners.
And that presents such a beautiful picture
to somebody who's looking for
a sustainable travel organisation to visit,
to experience and to travel with. So, absolute key, you
know, so many operators out there doing so many amazing
things and we just say we've only just
(13:14):
finding out about it. You need to stand
proud and tell the world about it
and have that sustainability story as
your point of difference. Yes. And hopefully
less of a point of difference as, as you know,
the, sustainability grows through the industry, but
it's what people are looking for and it's what's important to
(13:35):
a lot of travellers these days. They want that really
heartfelt, ah, genuine experience and they
want to travel, with operators, share that
ethos.
>> Despina Karatzias (13:44):
And what was really fascinating about the
global. The Eco Summit
in Brisbane. Yes. Was this
year. Yes.
A real eye opener for me is just how much
our big OTAs have
come on board. I've never seen quite a
(14:05):
representation from retail and,
you know, Expedia booking.com Big
Red Group with big sustainable
main menu, items
like fielding through who are, our eco
operators or eco experiences which,
you know, we're all moving in the right direction. But I thought, wow,
(14:26):
look at this big change happening
Here, which is excellent. So
next year we're going to find out soon there's going to be announcement.
So if any of you that have been tuning in
and, I know I've been on the other side a few years back
and going, oh, I wish I was there, it sounds great. We've got some
new announcements that are happening and, what would you
(14:46):
say to anyone being your first time thinking
about next year as it will come to live and be
announced where we're going next year?
>> Corinne Lewis (14:54):
Yeah, we're really excited to find out where the art conference is going to
be held next year. It's just been really
insightful to meet the
people, hear from the people.
You know, Tourism Australia are here and all the big state,
tourism bodies are here, which is fantastic. Australia is
represented completely. But as I said
before, the man on the ground is
(15:16):
just key. So that's what I've really got
from the Regional Tourism Conference. All levels
of the tourism industry are here, all of Australia
is here and
we have to work together. There's been a lot of talk about top
down and bottom up and just
really working together. And I think also a
key highlight, don't feel alone as a loan
(15:39):
operator. Reach out to. You might think they're your
competitors, but reach out and work together
and share, and work with your visitor centre
and work with your local tourism, work with your council
and really build a community.
Because we've heard it so many times this week,
if you're a loan operator and we're attracting,
(15:59):
you know, massive M international markets that are looking for
authentic Australian experiences, then you're not going
to miss out. By working your competitor, by working as a
region, you're just going to attract people
to stay longer, to spend more
and just really embrace and understand everything
that your region offers. So, I think that's been a
(16:19):
really key point from the conference is just
that working together and you know that
the smaller tour operators on the ground aren't forgotten, they're
really embraced. There's a big focus on the
regions. The international and the domestic travellers really
want and love visiting the region. So, fantastic
conference, fantastic content, beautiful
people. It's been amazing. So
(16:41):
grateful that I've been here and I can't wait to go
next year and we'll find out where it is next year.
>> Despina Karatzias (16:47):
Yeah, really, you've taken the
time to share your wealth of
knowledge. All the best as you continue on the
mission and, we'll see you next year and. Which is
soon to be announced.
>> Corinne Lewis (16:59):
Yes.
All right.
>> Despina Karatzias (17:00):
Thank you, everyone, for joining. Top of the morning. And we'll
be back with some more humans
of regional and Australian tourism.
Bye for now. Thank you. Thanks, Serene.
>> Corinne Lewis (17:12):
Relax.
Welcome to the Tourism Hub Podcast, a podcast devoted
to you and your excellence,
providing inspiration and education for the
entrepreneurs, experience makers and
excellent seekers of our industry to take
your tourism business and career to a whole new
level.
(00:30):
Top of the morning, everybody. Top of the morning to my special
guest. Day two. Thank you. Good morning.
Good morning. Corinne Lewis here from
Ecotourism Australia. Thank you for joining me.
Thank you for being brave and saying yes. It's your
first time to art.
>> Corinne Lewis (00:45):
It is. I haven't been to the art conference before,
so fantastic experience so far.
>> Despina Karatzias (00:51):
Yeah. what has been a real key highlight for you because you
actually came earlier at the ta, Agri
Tourism day too. What have been some of your
highlights from the art convention?
>> Corinne Lewis (01:02):
Yeah, so having the Agri tourism tagged onto the art
conference was fantastic. So day one,
the afternoon, I found it really,
I guess, inspiring and just
a really fresh insight into
the people on the ground. So some of the
speakers were cattle farmers from
Tasmania, a young lady that
(01:24):
runs a small family hobby farm with
cattle and pigs, and the lady
from, Sydney oyster farm. and just really, I guess, hearing from
people on the ground that are pursuing
or interested in pursuing the agritourism angle and just
the challenges, but also the opportunities
of mixing their agricultural
roots and the core of their farming business
(01:47):
with the potential of tourism. And they were all
at different stages in the journey
and really interesting to see that it's not as simple
as popping a cabin on your paddock or having some
people come to the farm. They've got real challenges with
insurances and taxes and grants and all sorts of things
with that transition. So I just found it,
yeah, really insightful and refreshing hearing
(02:09):
from the people on the ground and just that
insight into agritourism. Yeah.
>> Despina Karatzias (02:15):
Oh, it's definitely been. It's been just
that. It's been an insight and it's, you kind of see
this space evolving and it was just
great to have that tagged on, as you mentioned.
And it is also, it's in light
of sustainable practises.
It's all aligned as well, you know, I mean,
(02:35):
I think these are, operators that, you
know, are well and truly, that's something that they've probably,
you know, well before their time have been practising
sustainably.
>> Corinne Lewis (02:45):
Absolutely. So, you know, sustainable farm
practises and sustainable living in general is
just core to who they are and how they run their operation.
So that sort of transition to
sustainable tourism as a part of their
farming experience is a natural transition
for them, but still some different challenges from
a traditional Tour operator who
(03:07):
you know might go through one of our programmes and
you know is, is really growing their business in. In a
sustainable or to become eco tourism
certified. Yeah, lots of parallels but also some
really different.
>> Despina Karatzias (03:20):
Oh, we heard from Rose yesterday and she was even
just from planning and you know,
like even for planning and permits
to do, you know, you know you want to innovate, you want to
do something different. But there are some barriers to
entry to do that.
And speaking of not so many
barriers to entry in more and more. I
(03:43):
mean the team has been busy all over the
country so it's great we got to, you know everybody.
There's a lot of conventions and conferences and world global
summits and having really great representations
for Ecotourism Australia. Yes. And the
work that you do and I love with the
certification and the, I guess the
accreditations that Ecotourism M Australia,
(04:06):
this kind of like there's something for everybody
in all areas of the distribution
channel per se. Now a lot here are
destination certified. I know there's a lot here that are
thinking about going down that path.
I know a lot of operators that are doing the strive
for sustainability. What would you say someone that's,
(04:27):
you know, also behind the scenes reviewing your
applications, submissions for
certification. What are some things that anyone
that is thinking that's a lot of work like
I've like to go down that path. What would you
say?
>> Corinne Lewis (04:41):
Yeah, well as you said, there's
Ecotourism Australia has been around for a long time.
The core of our certification is based on the
global sustainable tourism criteria.
So it is globally recognised and we also
were the father to take those global criteria
and create a certification programme. So
(05:02):
traditionally we were eco certification, so
working with all of the fantastic, mostly
small to sort of medium tourism operators that are
immersed in nature and that
sustainability and that eco tourism is just core
to who they are. So that's sort of been our our traditional
journey with the industry
(05:22):
scorecard for or Strive for sustainability, or the
scorecard as we call it, was introduced
to enable people to do exactly
that, have a taste of the certification
process. So they're still using the same
portal application process as
certification. but rather than
a journey, it's a snapshot. So they'll jump
(05:44):
onto the portal and answer the questions honestly
as their business exists that day.
So if they have a business plan, if they don't, if they've
got an environmental plan, if they don't, if they're doing
the sustainable practises or they aren't answer,
the questions in that way and get some really great
feedback from the team as to what
(06:04):
they can do next and how they can improve and they end up with a
score, a percentage out of 100. So it gives them a really
good idea where am I? Am I right at
the beginning of my journey and I've got a lot to do or, or oh
wow, I got 75, 90%
I'm really ready for certification.
So it's a really great stepping stone into
(06:24):
the certification programme. So in
certification then they can go down the eco certification
path if they're a nature based operator. and we've now got a
sustainable tourism certification programme which
has opened up urban based operators to be
able to complete. So you know
all of the big hotel chains, we've got Accor and
(06:44):
Marriott on board now so it's great to see
the big guys in tourism also doing
everything they can to be
sustainable. And then as you mentioned, a great
programme working with destinations. So
entire regions are now working with us. We've
currently got 11 regions certified
so they go through a slightly different programme.
(07:07):
It's a long process. It's really a strong
relationship between the destination and
ecotourism Australia as it is with our operators
and we just really work closely
together to help whether it's an operator or whether it's
a destination. Just work their way through the
process, put all of the practises in place until
(07:28):
they're at a stage where they're compliant and we
believe that when the third party auditor goes in that, that
they'll achieve certification. So we're very much
nurturing, supporting, providing
tools and guidance. Whether you're a small
operator, a big hotel chain or a destination,
our job is to support and coach you through
to certification. And you know, moving forward
(07:50):
that certification is just going to mean more and be more
valuable. As you know the world is really
focused on being anti greenwashing. You know you can
have that, that certificate with pride knowing that
you are running your business in line with global
best practise. So yeah, it's a brilliant, it's
a brilliant process and I get feedback all the
(08:11):
time from operators just saying even if
they weren't perfect, what a great business development
tool it was to go through the process and go wow, we are
doing all these great things or oh wow, we haven't thought of that
and how amazing if we can put those things into
practise.
>> Despina Karatzias (08:26):
I can agree with that. It's definitely in for my
own business. I've got, I've registered, it's A goal,
like I said, My 2024 goal. But
I know anything, anything like this makes you better,
huh? But as a collective, even as a destination
and you. Yeah, that was my next question. How do you
measure that? But you do work with partners to come in
(08:46):
to help you with the audit for a
destination certification. So everything is
credibly certified with that global
staff.
>> Corinne Lewis (08:56):
Yeah. So for the integrity of the programme, because
we're so involved with our operators and our
destinations in helping them through the process, for the
integrity of the programme, we need those professional third
party auditors to go in and with fresh eyes
and actually confirm
compliance and certification. So
everybody, you know, understands that it's really authentic and
(09:17):
genuine. And yeah, the audits
are carried out by the third party professionals and
also business development.
>> Despina Karatzias (09:24):
But what a great. And I think there's
more to be done here and I'll tell
you in terms of using it as
a real like leveraging that
unique point of difference that it can make
to your business by having an
Ecotourism Australia certification. So I think
sometimes that can be that can
(09:47):
that step after you've achieved and
received that, that step to say, well, how am I
going to let everyone know?
How will I have this? You know, and some are doing
it really well. And I only say this because, I mean I'm running a
session on AI and I did, you
know, trying to build content on the context of
(10:07):
eco. But it's interesting what the AI
spat out at me now.
It was some. Was even not, you know, it was
not. You have to cheque it, it wasn't true. But the
ones that were ECO and had the
certification, I think, wow. There was so much more that
could have been done. Give it a dedicated
(10:27):
page.
>> Corinne Lewis (10:28):
Yes.
>> Despina Karatzias (10:28):
Not just put the logo on the bottom of your
website. No. You know, not even
a Google crawler for SEO is really going to
recognise that. So yeah, it was just something
that came to I think for all of these, you know, for all the services
certification that post marketing opportunity.
>> Corinne Lewis (10:45):
Yes.
So I guess we've just spent, you know,
two and a half going on for three days immersed in this
amazing conference where we've heard so much
about, you know, the importance of working with
community, the importance of working with culture
and the fact that the travelling public are
looking for tourism operators
(11:06):
that represent their own ethos. So
travellers are conscious about wanting
to visit places and
have authentic experiences and really meaningful
experiences and make positive impacts
and maybe leave that place better than.
So, it's not just a sticker it's not just a
certificate. It says to the travelling
(11:28):
public, I, am committed to
my sustainability, use sustainable
and eco practises throughout everything. So we
are, we, our businesses,
all in line, all our plans are in line, so we run the
sustainable business. We're not going to go broke tomorrow.
Obviously, all of the environmental stuff, all of the
waste and the emissions management and all of those
(11:51):
things that we traditionally think are, eco. But through the
programme, they also need to show that they're working with
their local community, that they're engaged, that they're
supportive, that they share, that they source their
products locally, that they employ locally,
and that they also very much engaged
in the traditional owners of the area where
(12:11):
they draw their business and where they gain their income.
So very much about not sharing stories that
aren't theirs to share, but engaging with the,
indigenous landowners and either bringing
them into their product, introducing their
customers to indigenous product, or even just
as simple as an acknowledgement of and
putting their staff through training programmes.
(12:34):
So the whole process is a
really holistic view of sustainability
and exactly what you said, we encourage all of our
operators to not hide that, to have
a sustainability page that says, we recycle, we
manage our water, we manage our environment, we take care of
our environment, we work with our community, we
(12:54):
work with our cultural indigenous landowners.
And that presents such a beautiful picture
to somebody who's looking for
a sustainable travel organisation to visit,
to experience and to travel with. So, absolute key, you
know, so many operators out there doing so many amazing
things and we just say we've only just
(13:14):
finding out about it. You need to stand
proud and tell the world about it
and have that sustainability story as
your point of difference. Yes. And hopefully
less of a point of difference as, as you know,
the, sustainability grows through the industry, but
it's what people are looking for and it's what's important to
(13:35):
a lot of travellers these days. They want that really
heartfelt, ah, genuine experience and they
want to travel, with operators, share that
ethos.
>> Despina Karatzias (13:44):
And what was really fascinating about the
global. The Eco Summit
in Brisbane. Yes. Was this
year. Yes.
A real eye opener for me is just how much
our big OTAs have
come on board. I've never seen quite a
(14:05):
representation from retail and,
you know, Expedia booking.com Big
Red Group with big sustainable
main menu, items
like fielding through who are, our eco
operators or eco experiences which,
you know, we're all moving in the right direction. But I thought, wow,
(14:26):
look at this big change happening
Here, which is excellent. So
next year we're going to find out soon there's going to be announcement.
So if any of you that have been tuning in
and, I know I've been on the other side a few years back
and going, oh, I wish I was there, it sounds great. We've got some
new announcements that are happening and, what would you
(14:46):
say to anyone being your first time thinking
about next year as it will come to live and be
announced where we're going next year?
>> Corinne Lewis (14:54):
Yeah, we're really excited to find out where the art conference is going to
be held next year. It's just been really
insightful to meet the
people, hear from the people.
You know, Tourism Australia are here and all the big state,
tourism bodies are here, which is fantastic. Australia is
represented completely. But as I said
before, the man on the ground is
(15:16):
just key. So that's what I've really got
from the Regional Tourism Conference. All levels
of the tourism industry are here, all of Australia
is here and
we have to work together. There's been a lot of talk about top
down and bottom up and just
really working together. And I think also a
key highlight, don't feel alone as a loan
(15:39):
operator. Reach out to. You might think they're your
competitors, but reach out and work together
and share, and work with your visitor centre
and work with your local tourism, work with your council
and really build a community.
Because we've heard it so many times this week,
if you're a loan operator and we're attracting,
(15:59):
you know, massive M international markets that are looking for
authentic Australian experiences, then you're not going
to miss out. By working your competitor, by working as a
region, you're just going to attract people
to stay longer, to spend more
and just really embrace and understand everything
that your region offers. So, I think that's been a
(16:19):
really key point from the conference is just
that working together and you know that
the smaller tour operators on the ground aren't forgotten, they're
really embraced. There's a big focus on the
regions. The international and the domestic travellers really
want and love visiting the region. So, fantastic
conference, fantastic content, beautiful
people. It's been amazing. So
(16:41):
grateful that I've been here and I can't wait to go
next year and we'll find out where it is next year.
>> Despina Karatzias (16:47):
Yeah, really, you've taken the
time to share your wealth of
knowledge. All the best as you continue on the
mission and, we'll see you next year and. Which is
soon to be announced.
>> Corinne Lewis (16:59):
Yes.
All right.
>> Despina Karatzias (17:00):
Thank you, everyone, for joining. Top of the morning. And we'll
be back with some more humans
of regional and Australian tourism.
Bye for now. Thank you. Thanks, Serene.
>> Corinne Lewis (17:12):
Relax.
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