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Global Eco 09

The Global Eco Asia-Pacific Tourism Conference features an excellent array of national and international speakers, all experts in their fields.

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Registration

Mr. Rod Quartermain Tourism Branch Manager - WA Departement of Environment and Conservation		Tourism and Protection Through Partnerships Day 2, 11:00-11:30
Biography Rod Quartermain is DEC’s Tourism Branch Manager and has a background as a tourism and hospitality operator before joining the WA Tourism Commission as Tourism Development Manager and then DEC as the Tourism Branch Manager involved with “Naturebank” since its inception. *Naturebank – Eco Development in Protected Areas* The most iconic unique selling point for tourism in Western Australia is the State’s natural attractions and eco tourism opportunities. However its potential is far from realised because of issues relating to entry of private investment in protected areas. Tourism Western Australia and the WA Department of Conservation and Environment's (DEC) “Naturebank” project attempts to address these issues and has embarked on a staged release of eco tourism accommodation development opportunities in Western Australia's most iconic protected areas. The programmed release of sites is the result of extensive site investigations, consultation and engagement with Traditional Owners, assessment of environmental impacts and values, and consideration of visitor expectations. Sites are carefully selected to offer more than just accommodation. They will integrate with their setting, provide employment and opportunities for capacity building in the tourism industry for Aboriginal communities, improve public access to National Parks and advocate the conservation message to visitors.		Tourism in Protected Areas Day 2, 16:00-16:30
Stephen Ramalepa Quality Assurance Manager - Botswana Tourism Board		Tourism and Protection Through Partnerships Day 2, 11:30-12:00
Biography Mr. Stephen Ramalepa has played a major role in the development of tourism industry in Botswana. Currently employed by the Botswana Tourism Board as Quality Assurance Manager responsible for the introduction, implementation and monitoring of quality assurance programs within the tourism industry. Mr Ramalepa is also the chairperson of the Botswana Bureau of Standards Technical Committee responsible for the formulation of Hotels and related establishments grading requirements. Mr Ramalepa is graduated with Diploma - Environmental Health from the University of Swaziland; Bachelor of Applied Science-Environmental Health from Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide and Master of Tourism from University of James Cook, Townsville. Mr Ramalepa worked for various local authorities in Botswana as Head of Environmental Health Departments for almost 10 years. Also worked for the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism as head of licensing, grading and classification of tourist enterprises for 9 years. *Ecotourism development in Botswana* The Botswana Tourism Policy (1990) and the Botswana Master Tourism Plan (2000), call for tourism activities within Botswana to be undertaken on an ecologically and economically sustainable basis. Following these, the Botswana Ecotourism Certification Program was developed to encourage and support responsible environmental, social and cultural behaviour by tourism businesses. The program is further built on the guiding principles of the Botswana National Ecotourism Strategy (2002) of: minimising negative social, cultural and environmental impacts; maximising the involvement in, and the equitable distribution of economic benefits to host communities; maximising revenues for re-investment in conservation; educating both visitors and local people on the importance of conserving natural and cultural resources and delivering a quality experience for tourists. The program uses three-tiered levels designed to incorporate the broadest cross-section of tourism operations. Of the three levels, the simplest to obtain is green followed by green+ and finally ecotourism level.
Andy Ralph Coordinator - Kakadu Culture Camp		*Indigenous Tourism Development* Day 2, 14:30-15:00
Biography Andy Ralph is Balanda (European descent) and is married to Jenny Hunter and has been living on Park Ranger Stations and Aboriginal communities in Kakadu National Park for over twenty years. After working mainly on various Kakadu land management issues, Andy now coordinates the Kakadu Culture Camp. Following ten years with Kakadu’s Supervising Scientist organisation; he worked for Kakadu’s Mirarr people as Executive Officer of Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, assisting traditional owner’s negotiations with Rio Tinto to stop the Jabiluka Uranium mine. He also helped coordinate Aboriginal “culture camp” for Kakadu's Mirarr elders to pass on traditional knowledge and culture to their children. Andy has been a national board member of Wildlife Tourism Australia, and Chairperson of the Kakadu Mahbilil Festival; an Aboriginal cultural festival held every September in Jabiru. He is a member of the Australian Rock Art Research Organisation and has worked with leading archaeologists recording and maintaining Aboriginal rock art in Kakadu and Arnhem Land. Andy has also recently been appointed President of Savannah Guides Ltd, a not for profit network of professional tour guides interpreting the tropical savannah country of northern Australia. Andy is also a fully accredited Savannah Guide, and leads special interest groups into Arnhem Land. Jenny Hunter is born and bred in Kakadu and has been a Kakadu Park Ranger for 15 years. *Kakadu Culture Camp - Starting from scratch* Kakadu Culture Camp started out as a good idea at the time! Little did we know that operating the tour on a daily basis was the easy bit! Consulting traditional owners, ticking all the Kakadu National Park boxes and getting a permit to operate was just the start. Working up an interpretive plan, developing different strategies for international and domestic marketing, and maintaining a consistent and reliable product are just some of the early hurdles you encounter. Making good use of business mentors, identifying corporate partners who can feed your business, and being objective about your capacity to deliver the product are essential for sustainable indigenous tourism in the World Heritage Area.