For more than a decade, a partnership between Griffith Institute for Tourism (GIFT) and global sustainability certification group EarthCheck has continued to help shape a more sustainable future for Australia’s tourism industry.
Their collaboration is now supporting the development of a new sustainability toolkit designed to help Australia’s tourism small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) transition to more sustainable business models.
The toolkit is being developed for the Australian Trade and Investment Commission as part of the national THRIVE 2030 strategy, which sets a long-term vision for a resilient and sustainable visitor economy.
Director of GIFT, Sarah Gardiner, said the partnership reflects the value of combining academic research with industry expertise to tackle real-world sustainability challenges.
“Collaborations like this allow us to translate leading research into practical tools that tourism businesses can use every day,” Professor Gardiner said. “Working with industry partners such as EarthCheck helps ensure our research delivers tangible benefits for operators, destinations and communities.”
Supporting small tourism businesses
Tourism in Australia is dominated by small businesses, which make up around 95 per cent of the sector. While many operators are keen to adopt sustainable practices, navigating the available guidance and standards can be challenging.
The new toolkit aims to simplify this process by providing concise, practical advice to help businesses integrate sustainability into their operations.
Nigel Russell, General Manager – Consulting at EarthCheck, said the collaboration with Griffith University adds significant value to the project.
“The ability to tap into a wide range of specialist subject matter expertise at Griffith complements EarthCheck’s experience working with destinations and businesses around the world,” Mr Russell said.
The toolkit draws on internationally recognised sustainability principles from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, including environmental management, cultural respect, social responsibility and effective sustainability governance.
Once released, it will help tourism operators improve resource efficiency, reduce energy use and carbon emissions, strengthen resilience to climate change and respond to changing visitor expectations.
The resource will also build on earlier national guidance, including the Sustainable Tourism Toolkit developed in collaboration with Tourism Australia in 2023.
A long-standing partnership
The latest collaboration reflects a relationship that has grown steadily over more than ten years.
Stewart Moore, founder and CEO of EarthCheck, has worked with Griffith tourism researchers since the institute was established and has long advocated for evidence-based sustainability frameworks across the tourism sector.
With more than three decades of experience in destination management, strategic planning and sustainability policy, Mr Moore is widely recognised as one of the Asia–Pacific’s most experienced tourism advisers. His contributions were recently acknowledged with the Marie Watson-Blake Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual at the Queensland Tourism Awards.
Through ongoing partnerships with industry, GIFT researchers continue to support tourism destinations and businesses seeking to transition toward more sustainable practices.
Looking ahead to the 2032 Olympic Games
The next decade presents a major opportunity for Queensland tourism as the state prepares to host the 2032 Summer Olympics.
Mr Russell said planning for the Games is already encouraging tourism operators and destinations to think more strategically about sustainability.
“It will be great to see momentum building for the 2032 Olympics and the tourism industry starting to plan what’s required to fully realise the potential benefits before, during and after the Games,” he said.
For Griffith researchers and industry partners alike, the collaboration highlights the role that strong partnerships can play in building a more sustainable visitor economy.
The new small-business sustainability toolkit, expected to be released in 2026, is set to become another practical outcome of the long-standing partnership—helping tourism operators across Australia take meaningful steps toward a more resilient and sustainable future.
For more tourism research information, visit the Griffith Institute for Tourism website.
