Illawarra Eco Tourism Association

Incorporated #9896136

Chairperson: Dr. Fady Sidrak

Registered Office: Suite 4/11 Bourke Street, Wollongong NSW 2500

VISION

TO ENCOURAGE AN ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE AND ECONOMICALLY VIABLE ECOTOURISM INDUSTRY IN WOLLONGONG AND THE ILLAWARRA WHERE THE UNIQUE ENVIRONMENTAL BEAUTY IS EXPLICITLY PROTECTED AND VALUED BY OUR COMMUNITY.

MISSION

ACKNOWLEDGING THE WEALTH OF ABORIGINE CULTURE WALK WITH THEM IN THE REHABILTATION OF THE NATUTRAL ENVIRONMENT AND IMPLEMENTING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT TO PARTNER IN DEVELOPING AN EXCITING AND REWARDING ECO TOURISM INDUSTRY THAT EDUCATES, ENGAGES AND CONNECTS INTERACTIVELY WITH COMMUNITY CULTURE AND GLOBAL VISITORS.

GOALS

*          Economy – the strategy focuses on the business perspective by fostering opportunities for tourism operators and encouraging partnerships. Insistence on competitive advantage for ecotourism – including pristine beauty, unique experience, culture and friendly people become an interactive reward.

*          Environment – Our Ecotourism strategy clearly revolves around Illawarra’s environmental and ecological assets and aims at disclosing such to an appreciative cliental through well informed and friendly residents.

*          Community & Education – Educating local people and visitors on the value of ecotourism includes eco – catchment education tours – environmental issues, encourage and support eco – attractions – promoting local art and culture -, and encourage youth to voice their opinion particularly through events such as the Urban Nature – Youth Ecotourism Forum

A journey with our community
Illawarra Eco Tourism Association [IETA} is a facilitator that aims to draw together a thread

* of the historical journey by Dr. Charles Throsby in 1815 through our virgin escarpment to a first coastal settlement in Wollongong, with;

* the role of our Aboriginal people of the Wadi Wadi tribe who dwelt and journeyed through the escarpment and coastal plain who are acknowledged as being the ultimate in providing environmental nurture;

* and acknowledge this dual journey two hundred years later in 2015 as a convergence of common values with respect to nurture of the environment and call to country.

* To this end IETA is encouraging and facilitating Illawarra Eco Tourism through to and beyond 2015 as a vehicle to attract complementary investment and skills training to current tourism programs by:

* attracting investment for Eco Tourist Villages [ETV] and eco tourism infrastructure;

* encouraging ,skills training and employment for ETV management, and interpretive tour guides for Aboriginal legends, bush tucker tours, maritime history, flora, fauna and bio diversity tours of the Illawarra;

* coordinating much of the good plans and proposals that now lie dormant and promote regional escarpment and coastal tracks;

* promote development of an Illawarra Foreshore Parklands[IFP];

* alongside others seek investment to investigate the development of a Cuisine Coast featuring numerous national el fresco dinners;

* being a contributor to Wollongong becoming a model eco city. .