Ecotourism Australia has inducted six new operators into its Hall of Fame, recognising their 20-year commitment to ECO Certification.

The honoured operators include Townsville City Council Eco Catchment Tours, Heron Island Resort, APT Kimberley Wilderness Adventures, Odyssey Expeditions, Cape York Motorcycle Adventures, and Explore Group Australia. This accolade coincides with Ecotourism Australia's 35th anniversary and 30 years since launching the world's first national ECO certification programme.

Elissa Keenan, CEO of Ecotourism Australia, highlighted the significance of the milestone, stating, “Hall of Fame induction is the highest honour awarded to our certified operators. These six businesses have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to global best practice sustainability standards across two decades.”

Mladen Vukic, Chief Product Officer of APT Travel Group, expressed the importance of this recognition for APT Kimberley Wilderness Adventures, noting that it enhances credibility and attracts environmentally conscious travellers. Similarly, Renae Kunda, Director of Cape York Motorcycle Adventures, emphasised the pride in being the first motorcycle tour company to achieve ECO Certification.

In addition to the Hall of Fame inductees, eight operators were named Green Travel Leaders for their decade-long commitment to sustainable tourism. These include Whitsunday Jetski Tours, Sunrover Tours, and Brisbane Whale Watching, among others.

The awards were presented at the Global Sustainable Tourism Summit on the Gold Coast, where Lifetime Achievement Awards were also given to Peter Gash OAM and former Ecotourism Australia Chair Dr Claire Ellis for their contributions to ecotourism. All certified operators are featured on the Green Travel Guide, offering over 2,700 sustainable experiences across Australia

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