Project Description
This program has delivered training in sustainable tourism is over 200 government, academic and industry stakeholders in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The program involves a three-day pre-course training workshop in-country. Participants then travel to Australia to learn first-hand from tourism experts and operators in Australia about sustainable tourism practices. They participate in site visits to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns and North Queensland, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Sydney, visiting tourist attractions and cultural and Indigenous experiences and meeting and learning from Australian industry and government experts. The program leaders then return to Indonesia for a three-day post-course training. During the course (over approximately six months), participants design and implement a sustainable tourism project in their destination or workplace. Accordingly, over the past seven years, this program has delivered over 200 sustainable tourism projects in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. It also builds important international and trade relationships between Australia and these countries.
The program focuses on improving the enabling environment to achieve a sustainable tourism industry that helps to enhance environmental protection, nurture sustainable engagement with local communities and assist economic growth, sustainable livelihoods and workforce development aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our course acknowledges the requirement for improved coordination in the sustainable planning and management of the tourism sector with enhanced links between tourism stakeholders to accelerate contributions to national and social development and community resilience.
Project Personnel and Beneficiaries
This program directly benefits the participants who undertake the program. There are 25 participants in each course and the course has been run seven times in Indonesia and twice in Sri Lanka. Therefore, over its lifetime, this program has directly benefited over 200 people. However, given these participants take this new knowledge back to their communities and are often change-makers as a result, the program has an ongoing and indirect benefits across the visitor economics in these countries.
Outcomes to Date
The program has resulted in over 200 sustainable tourism projects in Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
The program leaders (Sarah Gardiner, Noel Scott and Bill Carter) have also produced a online micro-credential on sustainable tourism in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, “Tourism – Ready for Recovery”, launched in May 2020. This course has been completed by over 100 participants across eight country.
The program leaders have also written an online book “A Guide to Tourism in Developing Countries”, as well as, published journal papers on sustainable tourism derived from the learning from this course.
Project Significance
Tourism plays an important role in economies of developing countries. It has the potential to create sustainable livelihoods for communities through promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The visitor economy also provides opportunities for decent work and employment in urban as well as rural communities. The visitor economy can also foster business development and innovation and contribute to infrastructure investment by government and the private sector to create more sustainable, liveable and resilience places and communities. Hosting visitors also creates networks among businesses and communities and contributes to improving cross-cultural understanding to promote more inclusive, equitable and peaceful societies. This program provides training and mentorship to help community leaders understand these principles and work towards these goals in their communities to achieve a sustainable tourism and economic future.