These comprehensive resources offer structured guidance, templates, and best-practice examples from across the tourism industry. They help you build confidence in implementing sustainable tourism practices that benefit your business and community.

Key resources include:

• Destination NSW’s Sustainable Tourism Resources – Tips and tools for operating more sustainably to ensure a positive impact on land, people and culture.
• Austrade Sustainable Tourism Toolkit – a step-by-step guide covering the four pillars of sustainability.
• National Sustainability Framework for the Visitor Economy (Austrade, 2023) – policy foundation linking Australian tourism to the SDGs.
• NSW Litter Prevention Strategy (2023–30) – practical advice and examples for waste reduction and visitor education.
• NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy (2041). – focuses on the environmental benefits and economic opportunities in managing waste.
• Sustainability Storytelling for tourism and hospitality destinations – Earthcheck’s guide for communicating your sustainability actions with authenticity.
• Our Changing Snowscapes Report (June 2024) – research on climate adaptation and regional resilience.

How this supports the SDGs
Applying these guides contributes to SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals by helping operators reduce environmental impact and collaborate toward shared sustainability outcomes.

Ongoing learning and participation in sustainability programs build skills, confidence, and collaboration across the visitor economy. These opportunities support continuous improvement and connection with industry peers.

Key programs include:

• Austrade Webinar Series on Sustainable Tourism (YouTube Playlist) – four-part training series on practical implementation.
• Ground Swell Program – regional litter prevention and education initiative for tourism operators.
• Earthcheck – leading certification, consulting and advisory group for sustainable destinations and tourism organisations.
• Climate Active – an Australian Government program that drives voluntary climate action by Australian businesses. The brand represents Australia’s collective effort to measure, reduce, and offset carbon emissions to lessen our negative impact on the environment.

How this supports the SDGs
Engaging in training and industry programs supports SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals by fostering professional development, innovation, and collaboration for a sustainable visitor economy.

Certification and recognition programs help tourism operators demonstrate credibility, benchmark their performance, and gain access to networks of like-minded businesses. Achieving independent verification shows customers, partners, and communities that sustainability is embedded in your operations and continuously improving.

Key programs include:

• Ecotourism Australia Certification – a framework for achieving recognised sustainable tourism standards.
• Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard (Ecotourism Australia) – an entry-level tool helping businesses assess performance against the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) criteria and progress toward certification.
• Sustainability Advantage Recognition Scheme (NSW EPA) – supports NSW businesses to embed sustainability and climate resilience practices, offering bronze, silver, gold and platinum recognition levels.
• Eco Certification – a nationally recognised standard for sustainable and nature-based tourism operators delivered by Eco Tourism.

Actions to consider:

• Review each program to determine which best suits your scale, focus, and readiness.
• Use assessment criteria to identify improvement priorities within your business.
• Set a timeline for applying or progressing toward certification.
• Promote your achievements to build customer confidence and brand reputation.

How this supports the SDGs
Pursuing certification aligns with SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 13 – Climate Action. Independent verification drives transparency, encourages continuous improvement, and strengthens partnerships across the tourism sector. Participation in recognition schemes also supports collective progress toward more resilient and low-carbon regional economies.