Ecotourism Australia is the national body for the ecotourism industry. It was formed in 1991 as a not-for-profit organisation and has significantly contributed to long term environmental sustainability on a national and global level through its ground-breaking and world class ECO Certification and EcoGuide Certification Programs.

2011 will be the 20th Anniversary of Ecotourism Australia. Planning is underway for a range of initiatives in recognition of Ecotourism Australia's anniversary.

Ecotourism Australia has approximately 1,000 members throughout Australia and has maintained a strong focus on the facilitation of environmental best practice and a sustainable approach to tourism, resulting in Australia gaining global recognition as a leading ecotourism destination. This achievement has been made with the strong support of thei members and stakeholders, and specialist sustainable tourism partners throughout Australia.

The Ecotourism Australia vision is to be leaders in assisting ecotourism and other committed tourism operations to become environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially and culturally responsible.

The ECO Certification Program is a world first and has been developed to address the need to identify genuine ecotourism operators in Australia. ECO Certification provides an assurance that a certified product is backed by a commitment to best practice ecological sustainability, natural area management and the provision of quality ecotourism experiences.

The EcoGuide Certification Program was launched in 2000 and provides a credential, endorsing the recipient as a guide who will deliver an authentic, environmentally responsible and professional ecotourism experience. The EcoGuide Program provides guides with a cost effective and convenient advantage in being able to attain both EcoGuide and the national Guides of Australia (GOA) accreditation in one application.

Since 2008 Ecotourism Australia also administers the Respecting Our Culture Program (ROC) - a tourism industry development tool previously designed by Aboriginal Tourism Australia (ATA). A business with ROC accreditation will be recognised in the industry as having sustainable business and environmental practices. The ROC Program is unique in that it also provides the recognition of cultural protocols and authenticity.

Also in 2008, Ecotourism Australia developed the Climate Action Certification Program under the banner of Sustainable Tourism Australia. This new certification program is dedicated to ranking efforts to reduce energy usage and neutralise carbon emissions. The program also deals with climate change risk assessment and adaptation strategies. It is designed for all sectors of the tourism industry, regardless of size and level of carbon reduction already undertaken.

In 2009, Ecotourism Australia renewed its annual premier event, the Global Eco Asia-Pacific Tourism Conference (Global Eco). This annual conference brings together leading players from across the globe to examine best practice across ecotourism, sustainability, cultural and heritage tourism, tourism in protected areas and climate change response. Critical new research, policy and best practice case studies feature at Global Eco.

As part of the Year of Responsible Ethical and Sustainable Tourism (2010), Ecotourism Australia recognised over 40 Australian tourism operators as Green Travel Leaders. These companies are trail blazers in responsible travel having been ECO Certified for 10 years or more. Long before most people were thinking about green issues, these businesses saw the importance of the environment to tourism and wanted to ensure they behaved in a responsible ethical and sustainable way.

At the 2010 Global Eco Conference, Ecotourism Australia launched Eco Lodges of Australia, a marketing initiative by leading independent ECO tourism accommodation. Australia is globally recognised for outstanding ecotourism experiences, by using the brand ECO lodges of Australia, these tourism operators are dedicating themselves to raising awareness of the environmentally responsible, independently verified accommodation operators in Australia.

Ecotourism Australia has MOU's with UNESCO and the Royal Kingdom of Cambodia.