19 February 2009

Tourism Australia audits CSR credentials

MELBOURNE - A new report released by Tourism Australia indicates that the business events sector in Australia is taking the issue of sustainable tourism seriously, with a significant proportion of the sector actively engaged in seeking corporate social responsibility (CSR) accreditation.

The National Corporate Social Responsibility Audit commissioned by Tourism AustraliaÃ¢â¬â¢s Business Events Australia unit, assessed the level of accreditation across 278 organisations representing the business events sector.

Tourism Australia managing director, Geoff Buckley said Australia is one of the first national tourist offices to conduct an audit to identify businesses with solid CSR credentials.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœThe feedback we have been receiving from our international customers in the business events sector indicates that there is a greater need to deliver corporate meeting and incentive programmes that have a stronger social or environmental focus,Ã¢â¬~ Buckley said.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœBuyers are telling us that if you donÃ¢â¬â¢t have a strong CSR programme you wonÃ¢â¬â¢t get to first base. You must sell these credentials just as strongly as you sell your destination.Ã¢â¬~

Tourism AustraliaÃ¢â¬â¢s head of business events Australia, Joyce DiMascio said the results of the CSR Audit would assist in promoting greater awareness internationally of the venues and services in Australia that can assist businesses in staging more sustainable events.