ECO Destination Certification

Council and our community are proudly focused on sustainable tourism that benefits businesses, locals and visitors alike. This is about us asking our visitors to join us in protecting our natural treasures and honouring our cultural heritage. This means educating visitors and locals about how to take care when exploring our natural environment and how they can play an active role in preserving the oldest living culture in the world. Council will continue to do what it can and make a commitment to continuous learning, reflecting and improvement in this important area to ensure the long-term sustainability of our region.

Whilst our whole region and community was evaluated, Bellingen Shire Council is responsible for managing the accreditation with Ecotourism Australia. Audits will take place every two years to track increased progress and revisit recommendations from the previous audit to check if progress has been made, to help us keep improving our destination management practices.

ECO Destination Certification is managed and awarded by Ecotourism Australia, following the completion of all mandatory criteria and a successful independent site audit of the destination. The ECO Destination program is recognised internationally by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) through Green Destinations, an organisation designed to help travellers make conscious choices and invest their valuable travel money in sustainable businesses, environmentally-friendly activities and support cultural tourism.

Ecotourism Australia, established in 1991, is a not for profit, membership-based organisation inspiring environmentally sustainable and culturally responsible tourism. Internationally recognised through the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, they design and deliver certification programs for tourism products and destinations, assuring travellers that these are backed by a strong commitment to sustainability and quality. Currently representing more than 500 responsible ecotourism operators, 1,700 products and a growing number of destinations, Ecotourism Australia also represents the interests of ecotourism operators and destinations through membership on advisory boards, reference groups and industry bodies, working with diverse industry stakeholders to implement and reward sustainable tourism practices. These include operators, protected area managers, state/federal government agencies, local/regional tourism associations, consultants, planners, academics, students and travellers.

Successfully becoming one of a few ECO Destination's in Australia is a huge achievement for the Bellingen Shire and one our community can feel proud of. The certification indicates that we are a community that cares about its people, environment, culture and heritage and we invite our guests to join us in protecting our natural treasures and honouring our cultural heritage. The certification encourages more eco-conscious, sustainably-minded businesses to open, provides more sustainable employment and training opportunities, and increases liveability and improved wellbeing. It also encourages existing businesses to think about their own practices, benefiting us all.

For visitors exploring an ECO destination, they're venturing into a region brimming with opportunities to engage with nature, culture and the local community. They can expect a destination that prioritises sustainable tourism management and offers opportunities for self-guided experiences in nature and culture. With a growing number of travelers seeking genuine, environmentally conscious experiences, the Bellingen Shire is poised to meet this demand with its abundant natural beauty, deep cultural roots, and local sustainability efforts.

The very purpose of pursuing ECO Destination Certification with a respected organisation like Ecotourism Australia, who work closely with Green Destinations, is to ensure the Bellingen Shire is a destination guided by world leading best practices in sustainable tourism and sustainable destination management. For example, to even be considered for ECO Certification, destinations complete 80% of the Green Destination Standard criteria, and are then independently audited by an external consultant on site. Independent onsite auditing then occurs every two to four years to ensure the quality of ECO Destinations maintains the global standard.