South Australian Tourism Awards

This category aims to recognise ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that foster environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.

Important reminder:
Entrants should be encouraged to answer questions to highlight participation in tourism related
accreditation programs.

Question 1: Product (20 points)
a) Provide a general overview of the nature and history of your business. You must demonstrate your eligibility for entry in this category as outlined in the descriptor above.
b) Describe your services and facilities.
c) Explain how your product meets the key principles of ecotourism.

TIPS: Part a) Consider stating where you are located geographically and including a picture to help judges visualise your business.
Part c) For example providing positive experiences for visitors, contributing towards conservation, building environmental and cultural awareness and respect, promoting responsible travel etc.

Question 2: Business Plans (20 points)
a) Describe the key features of your business plan for example goals, strategies and outcomes.
b) Demonstrate your financial viability. If your business has not experienced growth, explain.
c) Describe the risk issues you have identified for your business and the specific risk mitigation
strategies you have put in place.
d) Demonstrate your involvement in, and contribution to the tourism industry. Explain how it contributes to the success of your business and the tourism industry as a whole.

TIPS: Part a) Explain what were you trying to achieve i.e. your business vision, how you went about it and
the related outcomes.
Part b) would benefit from the inclusion of graphs illustrating these results within your answer or a profit
& loss statement in your appendix.
Part c) Risk management relates to all parts of your business including risk to the visiting public, specific
business related risk and Occupational Health and Safety. Consider using a practical example or detail an
incident and outcome to prove how your risk management strategy works.
Part d) Demonstrate your involvement at local, state and/or national level. Examples could include
pre and post touring, cooperative marketing, media famils, cooperation with local and state tourism
authorities, tourism accreditation, active membership of industry associations, leadership in industry
forums, involvement in tradeshows, other partnerships and alliances etc..

Question 3: Marketing (20 points)
a) Who are your target markets for your ecotourism business and why?
b) Describe the marketing strategies used to attract each target market to your ecotourism business and detail the success/outcomes of those strategies.
c) What is your ecotourism business's distinctive difference and how do you use it to promote each of your target markets?
d) Demonstrate how potential visitors are provided with an accurate and responsible depiction of what to expect from the experience/product.

TIPS: Part a) Consider how you stay abreast of industry developments. Other points to consider could include your repeat business strategy, feedback collection and changes implemented based on feedback.Part b) Specific needs could include language, physical, intellectual, dietary and other special needs e.g. groups, special interest etc.

Question 4: Customer Service & Professional Development (20 points)
a) State the number of people working in the business i.e. fulltime, part-time, casual and
volunteers.
b) Explain how you achieve and maintain quality customer service throughout your organisation.
c) How do you identify and provide for people with specific needs?
d) Explain how you identify and determine professional/ development needs and describe the
training/skills development programs undertaken.

TIPS: Part b) Consider how you stay abreast of industry developments. Other points to consider could include your repeat business strategy, feedback collection and changes implemented based on feedback.
Part c) Specific needs could include language, physical, intellectual and other special needs.
Part d) could include the objective of staff/self training/skill development programs, how they were
measured, the extent of uptake and outcomes for the business.

Question 5: Sustainability and Innovation (20 points)
a) Describe and demonstrate your commitment to environmental sustainability.
b) Describe how your business benefits and respects the local community values and culture.
c) What innovations have taken place during the qualifying period to improve the nature of the
visitor experience and minimise possible impacts on the environment?

TIPS: Part a) This could include energy and water conservation, building design and location, waste
management, recycling, tree planting, engaging environmentally sensitive procedures and accreditation programs.
Part b) Benefits to the local community could include apprenticeships, in-kind contributions, employment of local residents, partnerships with community-based organisations etc. The use of local products and services could include food and beverage suppliers, service providers, tradespeople, and local building material. If local products and services are not available, briefly explain.
Part c) Include innovations that have taken place to improve your visitor experience, infrastructure
development, new marketing ideas or sales activities. Innovations do not include routine repairs and
maintenance.

Total score: 100 points. Visitation further 20 points

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