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Responsible Travel
BUNYIP TOURS MISSION STATEMENT
to continuously strive to exceed peoples’ expectations and provide innovative and enjoyable, quality tours throughout Victoria that respect the environment and local culture
Environmental Responsibility
Bunyip Tours would not exist without the stunning beauty and unique native flora and fauna of Victoria’s natural environment. Bunyip Tours embraces responsible tourism through a variety of initiatives. We have engaged an independent auditor, Carbon Balanced Consulting, which calculates carbon emissions of our touring vehicles as well as our office, which are then offset through various tree planting initiatives
Bunyip Tours is one of the first touring businesses in Australia to participate in this program. We are also certified by Ecotourism Australia, a member of “Butts Out” Australia and also of Planet Ark’s cartridge recycling program. Our brochures are printed using vegetable based inks on FSC mixed sources paper. All other marketing collateral is distributed either via usbs, or email to reduce the need for paper and we have a “think before you print” policy and encourage staff to reduce usage of resources (i.e. lights off, computers off overnight etc.).
In relation to our tours, we keep our small groups to a maximum of 24 guests. Our guides are all in the process of becoming certified by Ecotourism Australia. They are instructed to ensure minimal environmental impact, and to provide accurate interpretation, and keeping wildlife disturbance to a minimum by viewing from appropriate distances and informing our guests how to view wildlife with patience and retspect. Activities are always confined to tracks and boardwalks to minimise negative impacts. In addition to our own initiatives we also ensure we align ourselves with other eco certified operators such as Phillip Island Nature Park and Moonlit
Sanctuary
Economic Responsibility
Bunyip Tours offers the most diverse touring range of all small group tour operators operating out of Melbourne, covering all corners of Victoria. By transporting both international and domestic visitors to regional Victoria, we help to deliver tourism dollars to regional townships. Our guests are encouraged to purchase locally produced products from locally owned shops and markets, en route as well as at our destinations. We use eco friendly lodging wherever possible and actively promote regional tourism businesses, such as the Phillip Island Nature Park and Moonlit Sanctuary as part of our touring program. We also offer a “jump on and jump off” service on most of our tours, which allows our guests to stay overnight in regional towns, thereby increasing tourism custom for accommodation and other goods & services. Our Flinders Street office and shop front have also given the surrounding business substantially increased exposure and increased custom to the area. A YHA has recently opened two doors down and the Nomads hostel is just around the corner, as such the area has grown into a vibrant
tourist hub. We also own the Café next door to our office and local artists display and offer their artworks for sale on the premises.
On February 16th 2009 Bunyip Tours joined forces with Neighbours actors at a local and held a fundraising event for the victims of the 2009 Victorian bushfires. As a direct result over $31,000 was raised and donated to the Australian Red Cross.
Bunyip Tours has hosted several FOC tours for children and carers form various charities including Canteen, given donations to the Variety Club and Deaf Children Victoria and a child has been sponsored through World vision for the last 7 years
Social Responsibility
Bunyip Tours is an Eco certified, Carbon Balanced as well as an Accredited Tourism Business. As part of the accreditation process, Bunyip Tours is required to provide an in-depth submission regarding economic, environmental and social sustainability. Bunyip Tours is known in the industry to take its social responsibility seriously by offering many students from a variety of colleges and university placement
s in our office. Quite a few of these have led to full time or part time positions within the organisation. We are also very flexible in accommodating our employee needs in regards to balancing family and working life and providing a nurturing and educational workplace for our staff.
From a touring perspective, we promote close relationships with our suppliers and have long standing partnerships with many. By our visits and the payment of park entrance fees we ensure that National and Conservation Parks are able to continue their vital conservation and education work. Whilst most of our tours concentrate on Victoria’s amazing wildlife and natural environment, some of our extended tours have a strong cultural component. We take care to educate our guests with sensitivity in relation to Victoria’s well known cultural diversity
Bunyip Tours, 570 Flinders St, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3000
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