Managing green tourism via the charter process

The Charter process

Charter Process:

1. High Level Analysis

Each business carries out a High Level Analysis (HLA – a pre-assessment sustainability analysis). The HLA helps create an awareness of what sustainable tourism might involve for the business, and provides an overview of the business to the sustainability assessor. The HLA comprises:

• Sustainable Business Practices Checklist
• Rate current performance against charter
• Value Chain Analysis
• Identify main sustainability issues for business

2. Sustainability Assessment

The next step is a site visit by the charter assessor, resulting in the delivery of a sustainability assessment report. The site visit will involve the assessor and business reviewing operations and business practices to identify opportunities for improvement, and current sustainable business practices

3. Sustainability Report

The report will focus on:

• Energy efficiency opportunities
• Reducing waste, increasing recycling and managing the supply chain
• Managing hazardous substances and using alternative low environmental impact chemicals, sprays, fertilisers and cleaning products
• Improving water quality and conservation
• Improving staff capability - through motivation, retention and training of staff on environmental sustainability issues
• Recognising the importance of engagement with the local community and the support this can bring
• Promoting genuine and authentic cultural participation and content

4. Action and Monitoring Plans

The business and assessor then work together to create site specific Action and Monitoring Plans outlining steps towards improved environmental performance. Timeframes and resources required for these actions range from:

• Immediate implementation with little to no cost
• Medium term implementation with possible need for cost-benefit analysis
• Long term implementation with need for cost-benefit analysis

5. Implementation

Business works towards implementing and achieving action plans and monitoring of progress

6. Review and Update

Annual reviews and progress updates will further refine and improve the process. The review process also offers the opportunity to explore any barriers to progress that may arise. A benefit of the sustainable tourism charters is the nationwide network of businesses undergoing similar experiences. This provides a growing knowledge base of sustainable business practices and solutions to common problems.

Membership Cost

Annual membership to the charter is $100, payable upon delivery of the Sustainability Report.