Ms.
Giselle Radulovic - Sustainability Officer, Sydney
Harbour Foreshore Authority
Wednesday
9 November - Chair, Urban Ecotourism:
greening the destination
Biography
An
experienced tourism and business events professional,
Giselle’s passion and professional interest
is to assist organisations to incorporate sustainable
practices into their business operations and to
communicate these activities to their stakeholders.
Giselle’s background is in leisure tourism
where she started her career in the hotel sector
before moving to Los Angeles to work for a international
tour operator in both executive operations and marketing
roles. Returning to Australia, she undertook various
project management roles in the NFP and tourism
sector. Most recently, she worked at Business Events
Sydney as Head of AccessNSW. Giselle is currently
contracting with the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
as Sustainability Manager. In 2010, Giselle completed
a Masters of Management in Tourism, including a
thesis that explored the effect of communication
on motivating green tourism behaviour.
Mr.
Andy Richards - Founder, Understand Down Under (UDU)
Wednesday 9 November
09:20-09:40 - Urban Ecotourism: greening
the destination
Ecotourism
Off the Beaten Track 5km from Sydney
Understand Down Under (UDU) has always been about
facilitating a deeper understanding of Australia’s
natural and cultural assets by taking people off
the beaten track… so how can this be achieved
less than 5km from the very centre of Sydney, Australia’s
biggest city.
In this theme stream, Andy Richards from UDU discusses
Urban Eco-tourism, and explains how it is possible
to combine two seemingly opposite concepts. UDU
has achieved this by drawing from its innovative
eco-experience where each full moon it takes people
from Sydney to the Royal National Park, to use all
their senses to see the world from a different perspective
and gain memories that are truly memorable (www.moonwalks.com.au).
It has then used this concept in the urban environment,
by opening up a similar experience in Centennial
Park. Andy will discuss the various marketing and
operational challenges and opportunities involved
in this process.
Andy Richards is the founder of Understand Down
Under (UDU), which operates eco-tours to the Royal
National Park, as well as Moonwalks and “night
Magic” tours in Centennial Park (www.udu.com.au)
Biography
Andy
has always loved the great outdoors. His main passion
is simply enjoying the company of people from all
walks of life, and from all over the world! His
love for Sydney’s local secrets, and in particular
the Royal National Park, will no doubt rub off on
you. Andy has a particular interest in plants and
bush tucker, enjoys helping you fit together the
bigger picture themes such as the evolution of Australia.
Andy
has been guiding in The Royal National Park longer
than any other professional Tour Guide.
Born and raised at Outward Bound, Andy has also
spent a lot of time enjoying all of Australia’s
diverse habitats. He aims to continue the journey
with UDU, where ever that may lead.
Ms.
Kylie Robertson - Field Project
Manager, Caravan and Camping Industry
Association NSW
Wednesday
9 November 14:20-14:40 - Tourism: a
strategic partnership for protected areas
Successful
Partnerships
The caravan and camping industry has been the fastest
growing domestic tourism sector for the last 12
years. With many holiday and tourist parks located
in protected and ecologically sensitive areas, the
industry has sought to establish and maintain working
relationships and partnerships with various state
and federal government groups, local communities,
indigenous groups and traditional owners to create
a foundation of environmentally and socially responsible
management. By catering to all socio economic groups,
and participating in the Gumnut Awards, the industries
eco certification program, these holiday parks have
increased the public’s awareness of environmental
issues and encouraged conservation. This talk will
examine case studies of holiday parks in protected
areas and how successful partnerships have led to
better management that extends well beyond the sites
boundaries.
Biography
Kylie
is a passionate advocate for sustainable living
and ensures her lifestyle is a reflection of what
she teaches to others; from growing her own food
to utilising clean energy. A qualified Environmental
Scientist, Kylie has held the position of Field
Project Manager with The Caravan and Camping Industry
Association of NSW for two years where her role
is mainly structures around the coordination and
administration of the Gumnut Awards, the industries
sustainability program.
Kylie was featured on 4 different television programs
over the last year discussing sustainability and
green travel advice.
Kylie previously worked in local government developing
and implementing environmental education projects
and spent a number of years conducting flora and
fauna surveys for government departments such as
the RTA and NPWS.
Kylie and her husband have recently established
their own environmental consultancy business focusing
on aquaponic systems.
Mr.
Angus M. Robinson - Managing Partner, Leisure
Solutions ®
Wednesday
9 November 09:40-10:00 - Tourism: a
partnership for protected areas
Partnerships
- Eco-tourism and Protected Areas - A Case Study
Over the past 40 years, the Foundation for National
Parks & Wildlife has funded projects to save
endangered species from extinction, purchasing land
to be protected in perpetuity, and preserved important
cultural heritage sites across Australia. The Foundation
also funds interpretive material and trails in national
parks and reserves to enrich visitors' experiences
and to minimise their impact. In recent years, this
mission has been undertaken in a formal partnership
with the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service.
The Foundation has provided funds for the establishment
of the Yuraygir Coastal Walk, which traverses the
longest stretch of protected coastline in New South
Wales. Yuraygir not only provides visitors with
low impact access to protected sites of unique natural
heritage, but it also fosters local business. Yuraygir
has enabled ecotourism operators to offer outstanding
educative experiences for travellers that are sustainable
and economically viable, as well as environmentally
and socially responsible.
Biography
Angus M Robinson is a geologist by profession
specialising in experiential travel with a focus
on ecotourism and geotourism. His business, Leisure
Solutions®, is a member of Ecotourism Australia
and a sponsor of the Foundation. He also currently
serves as a Board member of the Foundation in which
capacity he chairs the Marketing & Sales Committee.
Mr.
Jeff Sharp - Director, Itours Australia
Wednesday
9 November 13:40-14:10 - Managing and
Marketing the Tourism Experience
Tourism
and Technology: a happy marriage
The tourism industry is definitely not an early
adopter of technology. While the industry pins its
hope of a recovery on the basis of big growth numbers
out of Asia, particularly China, we are doing little
to ‘personalise’ the experience for
them. We still remain, at heart, an Anglo-Saxon
based industry. Apart from a few signs and brochure,
we offer the non-English speaking visitor virtually
no information in their own language. Embracing
technology is one way the industry can rise to the
challenge to cater to both the non-English speaking
tourist and also the tech-savvy domestic tourist.
There is no point making available your ‘story’
(product offering) at your front door – you
need to take your ‘story’ to your clients
before they get there.
Biography
Jeff Sharp is a Director of Itours Australia.
He has over 30 years experience in the Tourism industry
and has worked in senior management roles for a
number of major tourism organisations including
Accor Asia Pacific, Australian Pacific Tours, AAT
Kings Tours and Great Southern Railway. He is passionate
about the Tourism Industry creating a better visitor
experience by utilising the latest technology. Itours
Australia has worked with Phillip Island Nature
Park. VRC, Parks Victoria and a number of other
well known attractions to help them achieve this
goal. He is a strong believer that if Australia
is to keep attracting International visitors, particularly
the Chinese market, then we must embrace both their
language and culture to create a personal experience.
Mr.
Douglas Shifflet - Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, D.K. Shifflet & Associates
Ltd. (DKSA)
Wednesday
9 November 11:30-12:00 - Managing and
Marketing the Tourism Experience
Seize
the American Tourist Eco-Potential
DKSA measures the worldwide travel behavior of the
U.S. population every month including their eco-travel
behavior and their travel patterns to the ASEAN
Countries. Utilizing ten years of detailed measurement
of who went where, when, how and indepth WHY, DKSA
has noted that American's eco-travel activity has
increased at a faster rate than has other activities.
In fact, eco-travel has an increasing share of traveler
purposes and it has increased faster for international
travel than for domestic travel. Further, while
it has slowed a bit since the world-wide resession
began, it tripled for international travel from
the 2000 base year. The traveler profiles with demographics,
spending and trip satisfaction and value for the
money are of particular interest and provide marketer
guidance.
Biography
Douglas
Shifflet is the Founder, Chairman & CEO of D.K.
Shifflet & Associates Ltd. which was founded
In 1982. DKSA specializes in syndicated and proprietary
travel research. Mr. Shifflet is a Marketing Psychologist
with over 35 years' experience as a counselor in
marketing and planning, with specialization in travel
industry applied market research. He is an author,
lecturer and trusted consultant on brand positioning,
marketing, strategic planning, travel industry trends,
and the ROI utilization of market research. He is
currently serves on the U.S. Dept. of Commerce Tour
and Travel Advisory Board, the PATA Strategic Information
Center's Advisory Board and Industry Committee,
works in Europe with OECD and Eurostat and consults
with several hotel chains and destinations.
Ms.
Rachel Telford - Director Major Projects, Infrastructure
and Investment, Tourism Western
Australia
Wednesday
9 November 13:40-14:00 - Tourism: a
strategic partnership for protected areas
How
and Why - The WA Story
The
WA Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC)
and Tourism WA plan and release opportunities for
tourism accommodation in WA magnificent national
parks via the "Naturebank Program". But
WA has allowed and encouraged the development of
appropriate commercial accommodation since the mid
1990's. This is consistent with the philosophy that
"Parks are also for people". DEC provides
many visitor facilities and infrastructure including
standard national park camping. But believes that
the private sector can also provide accommodation
facilities that meet other visitor needs and deliver
conservation and social benefit outcomes. The presentation
will discuss the WA process and how it achieves
triple bottom line sustainability outcomes for both
tourism and conservation.
Rachel
Telford has a proven track record in the tourism
field, having worked in the public and private sector,
in a range of roles, spanning the spheres of academia,
tourism development, events and marketing. Previous
roles in Western Australia have included Marketing
Coordinator for the World Swimming Championships,
Events Manager for Sandalford, Marketing Manager
for Leeuwin Ocean Adventure and Perth Regional Manager
for Tourism WA. Rachel spent four years working
in tourism in the Northern Territory including a
role as Destination Marketing Coordinator for Tourism
Northern Territory and later Assistant Director
for Arafura Games.
Biography
Rachel
is currently the Acting Director of the Projects
team in the Infrastructure and Investment Division
at Tourism WA. Responsibilities include overseeing
Tourism WA’s partnership with Department of
Environment and Conservation in the Naturebank program,
tourism deliverables of the Kimberley Science and
Conservation Strategy, Tourism WA’s role in
cruise sector development and the development of
a Caravan Park Strategy for the State.
Rachel
has a Master of Business degree, and in the academic
sphere, Rachel has lectured in tourism, events and
business at Edith Cowan University and Charles Darwin
University and has held research positions at both
Edith Cowan University and Curtin University. Rachel’s
most notable research contribution is in the area
of valuing parks for tourism and recreation. On
a personal level, interests include most outdoor
pursuits, a keen interest for travel and a love
of nature.
Ms.
Lisa Testoni - Assistant Director, Planning, Tourism
and National Landscapes, Parks Australia, Department
of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population
and Communities
Wednesday
9 November 09:25-09:50 - Managing and
Marketing the Tourism Experience
Losing
our competitive advantage: Australian nature as
a focus of visitor motivation
Recent
research shows the importance of Australian nature
experiences as a leading motivation for travel to
Australia. However, threatening processes, including
visitor impacts, are potentially eroding the species
richness and diversity that visitors hope to experience.
Australia’s National Landscapes recognises
the strategic connection between tourism and conservation
and provides a collaborative framework for tourism
results and environmental benefits. This presentation
will outline conservation outcomes to date and discuss
the selection of icon species for each National
Landscape. Ideas will be presented for tourism operators,
NRM managers and environment stakeholders on how
to access National Landscapes communication channels
to connect your visitors with a regional conservation
message.
Biography
As
Assistant Director for Planning, Tourism and National
Landscapes, Lisa is involved in managing Parks Australia's
protected area and tourism responsibilities.
Lisa
has previously managed Parks role in the National
Landscapes program, in partnership with Tourism
Australia, and is currently leading a review improving
management mechanisms for commercial tourism activities
in Commonwealth reserves. Parks Australia’s
reserves include Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Kakadu and Booderee
National Parks.
Lisa
joined Parks Australia in 2009 after a number of
roles with the Department of the Environment in
strategic policy, world heritage management and
sustainable tourism. She was the joint author of
“Steps to Sustainable Tourism”, contributed
to the development of Leave No Trace Australia materials
and has been published in various texts and journals.
Lisa
has a background in environmental planning and holds
postgraduate qualifications in impact assessment
for sustainable tourism. She was the recipient of
CRC for Sustainable Tourism and TransAlta/University
of Calgary scholarships. Lisa also enjoys climbing
mountains and has been a master educator in Leave
No Trace and abseiling instructor.
Mr.
Guy Thomas - A/Director, Tourism and Visitor Services,
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
Wednesday
9 November 11:20-11:40 - Tourism: a
strategic partnership for protected areas
