Corporate Structure
Resources, Hints and Tips
Sustainable Tourism Wiki
The Pacific Asia Travel Association’s Sustainable Tourism Wiki is intended as a knowledge bank of updated theory, agreements and declarations, reports and guides, best practices, useful links and multimedia resources related to sustainable tourism, contributed by travel and tourism stakeholders.
Hundreds of subject areas and specialisations, from biodiversity to climate change and energy consumption, can help the travel and tourism industry achieve sustainability.
The challenge is to collectively harness that knowledge and overcome the tyranny of distance, time and cost involved with international meetings, hence the establishment of this electronic clearing house for all stakeholders in travel and tourism to share information relating to sustainable tourism.
Hints and Tips
As the Northern Territory’s natural and cultural heritage assets are fundamental to its global tourism appeal, it is critical that we focus on the impacts of climate change and educate our industry and assist them to adapt their respective businesses accordingly.
Managed badly, fragile environments will be damaged and local cultures destroyed. The challenge, therefore, is to manage the future growth of our industry so as to minimise its negative impacts on the environment. Here are a few hints and tips to help you help the planet.
Office-wise
- Use less paper: electronic communications, proof read documents on screen to avoid printing hard copies, use e-mail for internal and external communication, send faxes by modem directly from computers rather than printing hard copy first
- Smart use of paper: double-sided photocopying and printing, post notices to staff on central notice boards, print drafts and memos on used paper, re-use large envelopes by applying new address labels
- Purchasing Recycled Products: by putting in place a policy to purchase recycled stationery products, your business will stimulate demand for recycled goods, helping to keep waste paper, cardboard and plastic out of landfill.
Energy-wise
- Switching off your electrical equipment when not in use
- Turning off the lights when you leave the room
- Buy energy saving equipment
- Reducing the time that lights operate
- Utilise natural light
- Minimise use of air conditioning
- Use solar energy
- Install key tags power controls or occupancy sensors
Water-wise
- Use water sparingly
- Choose water efficient appliances (including toilets, showers, taps)
- Educate guests to encourage responsible use of water
- Consider securing plugs to taps or sinks to stop them going missing
- Implement a policy of on-demand towel exchange
- Select native shrubs and other plants that don’t require additional watering
- Undertake a routine maintenance program to check for leaks
Travel-wise
- Walk and cycle instead of driving
- Car pool
- Use public transport
- Reduce your speed on the open road and switch off your engine when stopped
- Run fuel efficient vehicles
- Offset your emissions via carbon credits
Waste-wise
- Reduce waste by installing refillable dispensers
- Minimise packaging
- Purchase individual cleaners or cleaning systems which can satisfy a number of different cleaning uses
- Purchase in bulk to reduce packaging
- Purchase cleaning chemicals which are biodegradable
- Purchase cleaning products which are phosphorus-free and low in sodium to reduce their impact on wastewater treatment plants
