RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL PRACTICES
At Park Tours, we are committed to the principles of responsible travel and ecotourism and how this supports you as travellers, the local communities you visit and the environment.
In the office:
- Office ecosystem: Our office staff work from home to reduce commuting and allow a work / life balance. Our itineraries and news updates are delivered electronically to reduce unnecessary waste
- Local community: IPT office staff and guides are involved in their local community via schools, environment, social action and local enterprise groups.
- Accreditation: In 2008 we achieved advanced accreditation with Ecotourism Australia. Today, this continues to lift our eco standards both in the office and on our Australian tours.
On tour:
- Supporting local communities: Our community contribution policy is to use locally owned hotels; restaurants; transport, activity and tour providers wherever possible and to engage local guides who have best understanding of their area’s nature and culture.
- Tour design: We work with various stakeholders to continuously refine the style of our tours to a “slower” more sustainable pace. The transport we use, the hotels we stay at, the food we eat on a tour, all contribute to the impact of our tours.
- Encouraging local change: Working with business partners worldwide, including local guides and operators, we strive to source as much as possible from the local economy, maximising efficiency, ensuring responsible social and economic practices and minimising waste.
- Prioritizing the physical and psychological well-being of animals over entertainment: We support ethical, conservation-based activities by ensuring that the tourism partners we work with in the destinations we visit support best-practice principles for all wildlife.
- Focused on cultural connection and community support: We believe that gaining a deeper understanding of Australia’s rich cultural landscapes and living heritage is a privilege; it is an integral part of how we explore Country. We also believe it greatly enriches every journey we take.
We invite you to further explore local First Nations organisations, social enterprises, regional cultural resources, and experiences operating within our tour regions:
Booderee National Park & Botanic Gardens; Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council (WBACC) Tour: The Wild Alpine Summits and Coastal Trails of the Southeast
Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation; Discover the Tarkine Tour: Epic Tasmania: Walks, Wildlife and Waterways
Flinders Island Aboriginal Association Incorporated (FIAAI) Tour: Flinders Island Highlights
Girraween National Park; A Glimpse of Girraween Tour: Girraween Wellbeing Retreat
Kabi Kabi Aboriginal Corporation; Gidarjil Development Corporation (Milbi Café at Mon Repos Turtle Centre); Jinibara People Aboriginal Corporation Tour: Iconic Queensland – Rainforest to the Reef
Yugambeh Museum, Language and Heritage Research Centre Tours: Various day trips, half-day walks and short breaks in Lamington National Park, Tamborine Mountain and other surrounding SEQ areas
Why travel responsibly:
For you, the traveller: It can make your holiday even more enjoyable and fulfilling through the knowledge you gather and share with others, and the connections you make with local communities. When shown respect and consideration, communities tend to be more welcoming and respond warmly, leading to more authentic and immersive experiences, and genuine exchanges for the visitor.
For the places you travel to: Your behaviour (respect for your physical surroundings, appropriate wildlife interactions, thoughtful waste management) contributes to healthier ecosystems and cleaner urban environments, ultimately helping to sustain a healthier planet for future generations to enjoy.
For the people who live there: Considerate consumption habits (1water and energy use) and respectful behaviour mean less 2impact on local communities. Learning some basic local etiquette and phrases avoids unintentional offense and communicates respect, making everyday life better for residents.
Travel with Park Tours; travel with E.A.S.E
Everyone can play their part in travelling responsibly, by respecting and protecting the environment, wildlife, communities, and cultural heritage of the places they visit. In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which promote a better quality of life for all while preserving our planet, Park Tours is guided towards best practice by principles that sit within four core elements of Responsible Tourism:
Want to learn more?
If you’d like to learn more, please reach out to us at [email protected]
Feedback!
We appreciate your feedback and thoughts on best practice in responsible and sustainable travel.