Incentive delegates can now deepen their understanding of the Great Barrier Reef and take action to protect it with the help of a brand new Guardian of the Reef platform.
The platform offers delegates various educational resources and opportunities to participate in eco-certified activities.
Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef’s general manager partnerships and events, Tara Bennett, explained: “Delegates will learn about conservation with a series of short educational videos and fast facts to understand the issues facing the Great Barrier Reef and how they can help it simply by visiting.”
Guardian of the Reef was developed by Tourism Tropical North Queensland, in consultation with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, blending science and environmental education with Indigenous wisdom to link travellers with sustainable tourism experiences on and alongside the Great Barrier Reef.
Other ways incentive groups can contribute to sustainability initiatives include tree planting and wildlife rehabilitation.
For instance, carbon offsets for Australia Next 2024, held from September 9-11, have been made through a tree planting partnership with Reforest which will revegetate local wildlife corridors for the Lumholtz tree kangaroo.
Bennett told TTGmice: “We find that groups are looking for more ways to engage with nature, and we have many boutique businesses that can provide such experiences.”
During the event, the focus on sustainability also extended down to the menu, with 80 per cent of the food sourced within an hour of Cairns city from tea, coffee, and vegetables to rice.
She added that many “repurposed venues from Cairns various industries” have also been repurposed for off-site events, such as the Sugar Shed @ Yorkeys Knob.
“The Cairns and Great Barrier Reef region is the most eco-certified destination in Australia with 72 active eco-certified companies and 27 businesses undertaking the process with Ecotourism Australia,” noted Bennett.
