Darren Spearman, General Manager for SeaLink North Queensland said, “We are immensely proud to achieve this certification as recognition for the way in which we deliver our services and products not just to create brilliant customer experiences for all our guests, but in a sustainable way that celebrates and protects the beautiful environment we live and operate in.
“Every green decision we have made in our business, from installing solar-powered car park lights, introducing digital e-tickets and a commuter app reducing the use of paper tickets, purchasing local products to reduce transport emissions, using recycled paper, and being an active member of the Plastic Free Townsville initiative, have a positive environmental impact and lowers our carbon footprint.
“Our SeaLink team are also humbled to be recognised for our genuine efforts in working with the local Traditional Owners to acknowledge, respect, and reinforce their spiritual connection to the land and water of this region,” Mr Spearman said.
SeaLink North Queensland joins SeaLink K’gari (Fraser Island) who have also achieved Advanced Ecotourism Certification and Green Travel Leader status from Ecotourism Australia’s certification program.
SeaLink’s environmental achievements from around Australia also includes:
- SeaLink K’gari (Fraser Island)’s Ecotourism Australia certification for its environmental, cultural, and community programs at Kingfisher Bay Resort
- SeaLink South Australia’s commitment to Kangaroo Island partnering with Flinders University’s Citizen Science Passport 2 Recovery program following the devastating 2019-20 bushfires and its grassroots CommunityLink Program
- SeaLink Sydney Harbour reducing ocean plastic in a partnership between SeaBin and Captain Cook Cruises
- the design of a world-first internationally compliant hydrogen-powered passenger ferry design.
“As Australia’s largest marine transport and tourism provider we genuinely take our responsibility to protect the environments we live, work, and share with people all around the world very seriously,” Mrs Gauci said.
“Our sustainability programs look at ways we can improve our own internal practices to make them more environmentally friendly as well as designing fun and engaging ways we can help inform and educate our guests on understanding and protecting the beautiful natural environments they are visiting,” she said.
“Independent certification from peak bodies like Ecotourism Australia is a great way we can assess our operations against global best practice standards whilst also providing visitors an easy way to identify operators who have a genuine commitment to fostering environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation,” she said.
Visit www.sealink.com.au/magnetic-island to find out more about SeaLink North Queensland’s eco-friendly certified nature-based experiences, services, and work with the local Traditional Owners in the region.
For more information on Ecotourism Australia’s certification program visit www.ecotourism.org.au
