A

Mr. Nima Azari - Manager, Avaye Tabiate Paydar (Ecotourism Institute)
Monday 7 November 15:50-16:10 - Indigenous Tourism Forum

Tourist Site Enhancement with Local Community Participation
Qeshm Island in Southern Iran possesses unique natural and cultural characteristics. On the coast of Shibderaz village, the endangered turtles known as hawks bill lay eggs. Traditionally, the local people used their eggs for food. Since 2001, a phased project of conservation, ecotourism and handicrafts production supported by the United Nations has been launched with participation of the local community, which has contributed to the conservation and enhancement of tourist potentials, and has diminished the smuggling of goods. Phase 1 - conservation At this stage, the local people were encouraged to stop using the eggs for food, by enhancing their awareness and holding educational workshops, with collaboration of the local religious leaders and dignitaries. Phase 2 - Ecotourism This phase, which was undertaken with participation of the local community, was aimed at controlling and managing the tourist potentials of the village and upgrading the provision of tourist services, and guiding the tourists in a systematic way.

This phase brought about three achievements:
• Establishment of a local tourism body.
• Establishment of a local fund to contribute to the sustainability of conservation
• Disciplined zoning and arrangement of the applications on the basis of Environmental consideration.

Phase 3 - Handicrafts & Rural Women Empowerment At this phase, the rural women who are traditional absent from social activities, were encouraged to organize in a group and revitalized their traditional handicrafts, using new designs and producing new products with new applications, which are sold and earn revenues to support the conservation project.

Biography
Master’s Degree : Architecture -1991-1999 - Azad University-Tehran Master’s
Degree 2 :Landscape Design-2000-2007 -Shahid Beheshti University -Tehran

Teaching Background :
- Teaching geography, arts and architecture and tourism industry in educational institute of tourism industry
- Professor of tourism geography in Alameh Tabatabaie University - bachelor degree

Presentation:
- Presentation in first and third educational and specialized congress of Ecotourism
- Publish related articles to tourism in some tourism magazines
- Training course for experts of national committee of ecotourism about local community.

Professional Backgrounds :
- Manager of the development of Shibderaz village’s ecotourism project based on abilities of local communities with association of United Nations Organization. UNDP/GEF/SGP
- Executive manager of ecotourism project of Hengam Island with association of United Nations Organization. UNDP/GEF/SGP.
- Secretary of three national ecotourism congresses in Tehran - Iran
- Manager of Avaye - tabiate - paydar ecotourism institutute ( education and research)
- Member of curriculum council of national committee of ecotourism.
- Member of ecotourism council of United Nation Organization. UNDP/GEF/SGP

B

Ms. Vicki Bonanno - A/Manager Projects, Tourism and Recreation, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Wednesday 9 November 09:00-09:20 - Tourism: a strategic partnership for protected areas

The Seven Year Myth – Maintaining a Long Term Strategic Partnership
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority celebrates its seven year partnership with Ecotourism Australia in delivering on high standard tourism in the Great Barrier Reef.

Looking back, seizing the potential and embarking on the partnership seemed easy – we both shared a natural area focus and were committed to the best practice required to ensure that the activities in these areas were sustainable into the future.

The real partnership has been proven by remaining committed to the long haul, delivering on the responsibilities for all parties and working together to encourage tourism operators to seize the potential and offer a world class tourism experience. Partnerships are never straight forward and dealing with the challenges, in a way that maintains the integrity of both partners' programs, is essential.

The positive outcomes possible for an area as iconic as the Great Barrier Reef make it worthwhile. Congratulations Ecotourism Australia on your 20th anniversary and here's to continuing our rewarding partnership.

Biography
Vicki Bonanno, Tourism and Recreation Section, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, has been working in the field of protected area management for over 15 years. In this time she has been involved in assessing and permitting tourism operations in the Great Barrier Reef, developing management arrangements to ensure a range of experiences for all visitors and implementing a number of tourism policies. Previously, Vicki enjoyed the challenge of assisting with the development of an easy-to-read, online Handbook for Marine Park operators (www.gbrmpa.gov.au/onboard) which captures the rules of the Reef and a range of Responsible Reef Practices. Vicki is working in partnership with Ecotourism Australia and Marine Park tourism operators to encourage ecologically sustainable tourism through the development of the high standard tourism program. High standard operators are independently 'ECO Certified' by Ecotourism Australia.

Ms. Louise Boronyak - Project Coordinator, Institute for Sustainable Futures
Monday 7 November 11:00-11:20 - ASEAN and OCEANIA Tourism Forum

Achieving Conservation and Community Development through Ecotourism
This presentation will reflect upon the important role that communities can play in ensuring the success of eco-tourism ventures to improve conservation outcomes, community development and the tourist experience. It will focus on how to establish the structure and systems that build capacity within communities to deliver a high quality tourism products. It will encourage community participation in eco-tourism to ensure that the benefits that eco-tourism is seized and spread throughout the community. The presentation will be illustrated by the best practice case studies of tourism ventures from across the ASEAN region. The case studies demonstrate that eco-tourism ventures can provide a mechanism which supports communities to derive income whilst protecting their natural and community assets. Effective community based eco-tourism can address social needs, contribute to building a more sustainable environment, and be commercially viable.

Biography
Louise Boronyak is a Project Coordinator for the Institute for Sustainable Futures. She was the lead researcher on a project for APEC in which she developed a handbook about building Effective Community Based Tourism. Her experience is predominantly in the private sector in a range of project management, coordination and stakeholder communication roles in green businesses and the finance sector. Louise has a Masters in Environmental Management and a Bachelor in Economics. Louise worked with communities in the Amazon basin in South America to develop alternative income generation for local communities such as community based tourism initiatives to reduce the trade in illegally trafficked animals.

Mr. Haydyn Bromley - Cultural Director, Bookabee Tours Australia
Monday 7 November 13:30-13:50 - Indigenous Tourism Forum

Biography
Bookabee Tours Australia Tours Australia is an Aboriginal owned and operated chauffeured 4WD tour operation based in Adelaide. Our blend of authentic Aboriginal cultural experiences and mainstream touring makes us a multi-award winning tour company.

Haydyn Bromley, tour operator, is a qualified teacher and an experienced guide. He is an Adnyamathanha person from the Flinders Ranges. Haydyn provides diverse interpretations of the land that can only be truly explained and told by a local, as well as personal insights and experiences that are both historical and cultural.
A Bookabee tour will take you on an incredible journey through breath-taking scenery with rugged mountains, scenic gorges, historic outback towns and abundant wildlife. Our tours incorporate first hand knowledge of the culture and heritage of the local Adnyamathanha people, which enriches the visitors understanding and experiences of the outback. Hear Aboriginal Creation stories that will bring geographical features to life, and visit sites to see ancient paintings and engravings. We take pride in sharing exclusive locations and culturally significant sites only accessible with the accompaniment of a local Adnyamathanha guide.

C

Mr. John Cameron - Director, John Cameron Architects Pty Ltd
Wednesday 9 November 16:00-16:20 - Urban Ecotourism: greening the destination

Noosa North Shore Eco-tourism Portal: looking back, looking forward
In 2005 the Noosa North Shore Eco-tourism Portal aspired to be an exemplar of world’s best practice “developed as a centre of environmental wilderness excellence, respecting while celebrating the southern entrance to the Great Sandy Region”. The project aims included assisting with the protection of Noosa North Shore’s natural attributes, its character and its open space roles by absorbing some of the impacts that would otherwise place pressure on the Great Sandy National Park and other fragile areas of wilderness on Noosa’s North Shore. It is now in the hands of receivers and managers after foundering on the rocks of the global financial crisis of 2008, mid way to completion. Looking back, the lead architect for the project examines some of the learning from this venture and discusses not only the actual pitfalls, but also some of the positive outcomes taken away from his experience with the project.

Biography
John Cameron has practiced architecture since 1991, driven by a passion for environmental design, working in harmony with natural systems to create buildings that are not only comfortable to occupy but that also make fewer demands on our natural resources. He has a detailed practical understanding of the application of sustainable development principles, tools and techniques, gained through hands-on experience from his projects and a personal dedication to ongoing professional development. John has lectured and tutored on sustainable design at the University of Queensland School of Architecture, and regularly addresses design forums in Australia and abroad. He is recognised as a proficient consultant by Earth-Check for their Precinct Planning and Design eco-tourism standards, is registered to practice architecture in the State of Queensland, Australia; is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects (FRAIA) and a member of the Australian Green Development Forum (AGDF).

Mrs. Fiona Campbell - Manager Cycling Strategy, City of Sydney
Wednesday 9 November 09:40-10:00 - Urban Ecotourism: greening the destination

Making Sydney a Cycling City
Sydney is making fast progress on becoming a city attractive and accessible for visitors and locals on bikes. Ten kilometres of separated cycleway have been built. This presentation looks at completed cycleway projects, and some of the challenges and lessons learnt. The social programs to supplement the infrastructure are outlined. The results of progress so far are presented, as well as some tourism-oriented future projects.