Ecotourism Australia has recognised over 40 tourism operators as Green Travel Leaders as part of the Year of Responsible Ethical and Sustainable Tourism.

"These companies are trail blazers in responsible travel having being ECO certified for 10 years or more." Ecotourism Australia CEO, Ms Kym Cheatham said. "Long before most people were thinking about green issues, these businesses saw the importance of the environment to tourism and wanted to ensure they behaved in a responsible ethical and sustainable way."

Ecotourism Australia introduced the world first ECO certification program in 1996 and now has more than 1000 tourism products certified through their programs.

"We are very proud of our achievements, with both Tropic Wings Coach Tours and The Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary being recognised as Green Travel Leaders.

This status acknowledges our long standing commitment to providing ecologically sustainable tourism in the Wet Tropics region of Tropical North Queensland, and the established ecocommittee across our group of companies will continue working on new initiatives throughout this Year of Responsible, Ethical and Sustainable Tourism" said Ben Woodward from North Queensland tourism operator The CaPTA Group.

Ecotourism Australia has declared 2010 the Year of Responsible Ethical and Sustainable Tourism as a way to put the spotlight firmly on the tourism businesses that want to protect and sustain one of Australia's key assets as a tourism destination, its national environment.

"The recently launched National Long Term Tourism Strategy correctly identified that Climate Change is the primary challenge facing the tourism industry," Ms Cheatham said.

"As the strategy recognises, Australia's natural environment is a significant part of Australia's appeal as a travel destination."

The National Long Term Tourism Strategy identifies that "consumers in key Australian tourism markets are increasingly focusing on climate change and environmental sustainability when making purchasing decisions. Through enhancing awareness of environmental protection and sustainability, and ensuring proper management of natural assets, Australia has the opportunity to counteract negative consumer perceptions and purchasing behaviours, and to gain significant economic, social and cultural benefits from sustainable tourism."

A full list of the Green Travel Leaders is below:

• Araucaria Ecotours  QLD
• Billabong Sanctuary & Bungalow Bay Koala Village  QLD
• Billy Tea Bush Safaris  QLD
• Broken River Mountain Retreat  QLD
• Canopy Rainforest Tree Houses & Wildlife Sanctuary  QLD
• Capricorn Caves  QLD
• Cooper Creek Wilderness  QLD
• Couran Cove Island Resort  QLD
• Cruise Maroochy Eco Tours  QLD
• Daintree Discovery Centre  QLD
• Daintree River Cruise Centre  QLD
• Downunder Tours  QLD
• Exceptional Kangaroo Island  SA
• Fantasea Cruises  QLD
• Far Out Adventures  NT
• Foaming Fury  QLD
• Gippsland High Country Tours  VIC
• Grampians Personalised Tours and Adventures  VIC
• Imagine Cruises - Port Stephens  NSW
• Jemby-Rinjah Lodge  NSW
• Kanimbla View Clifftop Retreat  NSW
• Kingfisher Cruises  VIC
• Low Isles Sailaway  QLD
• Mantaray Charters  QLD
• Marine Discovery Centre  VIC
• Midginbil Hill Country Resort  NSW
• Monkey Mia Wildsights – Wildlife Sailing Cruises  WA
• Moonshadow Cruises  NSW
• Noosa Everglades Discovery  QLD
• Ocean Rafting  QLD
• O'Reilly's Rainforest Guesthouse  QLD
• Paperbark Camp  NSW
• Silky Oaks Lodge & Healing Waters Spa  QLD
• Skyrail Rainforest Cableway  QLD
• Tamboi Queen Cruises  NSW
• The Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary  QLD
• Tread Lightly Eco Tours  NSW
• Tropic Wings Coach Tours  QLD
• Undara Experience  QLD
• Wavelength Eco Snorkelling  QLD
• Whalesong Cruises Pty Ltd  QLD
• Wooroonooran Safaris  QLD
• Yelverton Brook Eco Spa Retreat & Conservation Sanctuary  WA