Carmody, Julie, and Zeppel, Heather (2005) Tourism operators and their environmental practices: Douglas Shire, North Queensland. In: Proceedings of the ERE (Environmental Research Event) Conference Proceedings and Handbook: the 9th Annual Environmental Postgrad Conference. pp. 1-13. From: Environmental Change: Making it Happen, 29 November - 2 December 2005, Hobart, TAS, Australia.

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Abstract

This paper reviews the environmental management practices presently adopted by accommodation providers, nature-based attractions and tour operators in Douglas Shire, North Queensland. Seventy-five tourism operators were surveyed in Douglas Shire by telephone, email surveyor postal survey to explore their implementation of techniques for water conservation, energy conservation, liquid waste management, solid waste management, sustainable design and other sustainable practices. The environmental management practices were derived from Ecotourism Australia's Nature and Ecotourism Accreditation Program (NEAP), other leading tourism associations and previous studies investigating environmental management techniques in use at accommodation establishments (Firth & Hing, 2001; Carlson, Getz & Ali-Knight, 1998; Buckley & Araujo, 1997). Both ecotourism certified and non-certified tourism businesses were included in the study sample. The study found environmental management techniques that are both simple and cost- effective are the most common practices used by tourism operations and these environmental management practices are implemented for the reason of better environmental management and to comply with environmental or World Heritage legislation. Issues identified by tourism operators as impeding the implementation of environmental management techniques were the limited collection of recyclable items within the Shire, the high cost of installing and maintaining alternative energy and water practices, and the existing environmental knowledge of some operators. Hence, this study suggests key areas where Shire Councils and tourism associations can assist tour operators to improve their environmental practices.

Item ID:	7624
Item Type:	Conference Item (Research - E1)
ISBN:	0-86459-386-4
Keywords:	Douglas Shire; environmental management practices; nature tourism; sustainable practices; waste Management; water conservation
Date Deposited:	06 Jul 2010 03:13
FoR Codes:	15 COMMERCE, MANAGEMENT, TOURISM AND SERVICES > 1506 Tourism > 150603 Tourism Management @ 100%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9606 Environmental and Natural Resource Evaluation > 960699 Environmental and Natural Resource Evaluation not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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