Venture Southland Tourism in conjuction with Destination Fiordland will benefit from the government’s $1.2 million Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Project after being selected in April 2005 as one of only four Regional Tourism Organisations (RTO's) to take part.

The three-year project encourages regions to develop a sustainable tourism charter and help tourism operators tap into the rewards of smart environmental business practice with the provision of resources, knowledge and practical advice.

The 11 Pilot operators for the initial phase of the project have been choosen these are

• Borland Lodge (Monowai)
• Queens Park Motels (Invercargill)
• Sails Ashore Boutique Accommodation (Stewart Island)
• Hump Ridge Track (Tuatapere)
• The Lodge at Tikana (Browns/Winton)
• Eglington Experience (Milford Road)
• Fiordland Wilderness Experience Kayak (Milford and Doubtful Sound)
• Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers (Te Anau)
• Real Journeys (Fiordland)
• Tawaki Dive (Milford)
• Trips and Tramps (Te Anau/Milford)

The 11 pilot businesses have been selected from throughout Southland representing a wide range of tourism operations. A Sustainable Tourism Charter has been developed to guide the project by a steering group made up of industry and local body representatives.

Environmental Sustainability has been increasingly focused on with a national push to deliver on the objectives of the NZ Tourism Strategy 2010 and Tourism New Zealand's 100% Pure marketing campaign. This externally-funded project will also tie in with addressing the environmental objective identified within the Southland Tourism Strategy.

The project encourages regions to develop a sustainable tourism charter for local businesses and provide experts for practical improvements, which could include energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling, water quality and conservation.

The Tourism Industry Association, Tourism New Zealand, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry undertook the project evaluation for the Environment. The Ministry of Tourism and Ministry for the Environment are planning to run workshops to share ideas and initiatives, while the New Zealand Tourism Strategy Implementation Fund funds the project.

Project Objective

The charter that has been developed through the initial workshops will:

• provide businesses with a practical framework to better understand their environmental impacts and consequently develop and implement achievable action plans and deliver achievable environmental benefits
  
  
• increase the number of businesses actively incorporating sustainable business practices and achieving measurable environmental benefits
  
  
• increase regional capability in the area of sustainablility
  
  
• contribute to a national response to deliver on the objectives of the NZ Tourism Strategy 2010 and Tourism New Zealand's 100% Pure marketing campaign