Proving nature and inclusivity go hand in hand
Last Friday, the National Arboretum received some very exciting news! The Arboretum has won GOLD for 'Ecotourism' and SILVER for 'Excellence in Accessible Tourism' at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards 2024!
Sustainability and accessibility are key to an uplifting and inclusive experience at the Arboretum, so we are overjoyed to be recognised in these areas.
The awards night took place in beautiful South Australia at the Adelaide Convention Centre, bringing together award nominees and tourism leaders from all states of Australia for an evening of celebration in what was the 40th year of the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards. ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr MLA, attended the awards alongside staff and leaders of other Canberra Region tourism attractions.
These awards came at a particularly special time, coinciding with International Day of Forests on 21 March, and Neurodiversity Celebration week from 17 - 23 March.
Ecotourism
The Ecotourism award recognises the ecological sustainability of our business, with the experience of natural areas being a large focus. This award recognises our ability to foster environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.
There are 44,000 rare and remarkable trees in our care, our commitment to conservation and education ensure that they thrive for generations to come.
Excellence in Accessible Tourism
The Excellence in Accessible Tourism award recognises our provision of experiences and services that goes above and beyond to accommodate and cater for people with disabilities and/or specific needs e.g. hearing impairment, low vision, limited mobility, wheelchair/scooter needs and/or cognitive impairment.
With over 1 million visitors to the Arboretum each year—20% of whom are people with disabilities—we continually strive to ensure an easy and enjoyable experience for visitors of all ages, abilities, and needs.
Not only do these awards recognise the efforts of our passionate staff, dedicated Friends and volunteers, and eco-conscious site partners in striving for an inclusive experience for all who visit, it also celebrates the rich diversity of our visitors, who give us purpose and are a driving force for all we do.
Thank you to the event organisers, judges, sponsors and partners who make the awards and the success of the night possible. We also wish to extend our congratulations to all the other awards winners, particularly our neighbours in Canberra Region tourism industry, who showcase the brilliant offerings Canberra is host to. We wish to make specific mention to Qantas, Tourism Australia, GetAboutAble (now named Empowering Experiences), Visit Canberra, The Canberra Region Tourism Industry Council, and Hipscotch.
A thank you to all our visitors.
By visiting us you are choosing to support our mission for a more inclusive and sustainable future for all. Your experience is at the heart of what we do, and we hope to encourage others in the tourism industry, and in all facets of life, to be champions of inclusion and sustainability.
To keep up to date with our commitments to Eco sustainability, and the latest accessibility information, head to the Eco Responsibility and Accessibility tabs on our website.