台灣與澳洲雙方生態旅遊協會簽訂合作備忘錄（相片）-20141124

 

台灣從聯合國訂定的2002年「國際生態旅遊年」開始，由政府支持學術單位、NGO與專業者推廣生態旅遊的觀念教育及產業輔導，至今已經12年，但產業面的發展成效緩慢，台灣多數旅遊業還是以大眾觀光為主，很少願意投入生態旅遊的行列，因為他們覺得那樣的獲益太慢。不過台灣各地社區則是積極發展生態旅遊，許多鄉村地方在生態保育、環境保護、環境教育及社區利益等方面都有可觀的成果。

台灣生態旅遊協會成立於2001年，就是為了配合2002年國際生態旅遊年開始在台灣推展生態旅遊而成立的，主要成員有政府機關代表、學界、NGOs、旅遊業者及有興趣的個人等。經過12年的努力，台灣現在的民眾、旅遊業者及政府相關部門官員都已對生態旅遊有所瞭解，也樂於參與或配合，只是可能缺乏產業面的實質誘因與成效，因此投入者少，無法形成一個有規模、有產值的產業鏈，這是台灣目前需要努力突破的地方。

澳洲生態旅遊協會是國際上生態旅遊相關組織的領頭羊，世界上第一套生態旅遊標章認證就是該協會在1996年建立的，也是世界上其他類似認證制度的主要參考對象。澳洲在生態認證制度或推動永續旅遊、行銷綠色旅遊產業等與友善環境、永續發展有關的成功做法，都是值得台灣學習與借鏡的地方。

2014年11中旬，主要由林務局相關單位主管組成的自費澳洲生態旅遊考察團，前往澳洲考察生態旅遊業者實務經驗以及拜會澳洲官方相關單位，我有幸同行學習。

澳洲生態旅遊協會執行長Rod Hillman於11/24設晚宴接待林務局參訪團，我國駐澳洲代表處布里斯本辦事處處長賴維中與駐澳洲代表處經濟組組長史美振也受邀參加。餐宴後由我與Rod代表台、澳生態旅遊協會簽訂合作備忘錄，並由賴處長見證簽名，正本各執一份。

這趟考察看了澳洲二大國家地景（濕熱帶雨林國家地景及大綠鍋火山國家地景）內的多家獲有澳洲生態旅遊協會認證「生態標章」的生態度假村，並與業者會談瞭解操作理念及實務經驗。也聽取澳洲生態旅遊協會二場簡報，介紹該會與業界、政府、NGO、聯合國組織合作的情形，也拜會了昆士蘭州政府「旅遊及活動推廣局」與「公園與野生物管理局」，聽取簡報。

澳洲生態旅遊協會表現高度誠意想與台灣方面多一些實質合作，例如互相推動雙方遊客前往生態旅遊、授權台灣生態旅遊協會使用他們的生態標章制度（已經在南非有授權案例）、願意在台灣舉辦「Global Eco conference」（已經在澳洲舉辦22屆）。

也許這是一個台灣生態旅遊產業活化的契機，讓台灣生態旅遊協會透過引進國際事務的操作，同步讓國內業者（如旅行社、英文導遊、旅遊地業者、住宿業者、餐飲業者、社區業者）動起來，但這需要政府與民間共同努力，更需要台灣生態旅遊協會及相關團體、單位、業者有人力可以來承接這些平台任務，以有效提昇國內生態旅遊產業的連結及實做，這是很大的挑戰，但也會是一番作為。

底下是簽約相關相片：

聽取澳洲生態旅遊協會執行長Rod Hillman簡報

台灣澳洲雙方生態旅遊協會簽訂合作備忘錄，前排左起賴鵬智、Rod Hillman，後排左起台灣駐澳洲代表處經濟組組長史美振、台灣駐澳洲代表處布里斯本辦事處處長賴維中、澳洲生態旅遊協會地質旅遊論壇主席Angus M Robinson

台灣駐澳洲代表處布里斯本辦事處賴維中處長簽名見證，這也顯示台灣外交官員在澳洲受到民間團體的肯定與禮遇。

台灣澳洲雙方生態旅遊協會攜手合作推動生態旅遊的交流及產業連結

 

底下是合作備忘錄頭尾：

底下是我拜託好友泰航空姐林琪小姐幫我翻譯的英文致詞稿（當天只念了部分內容），也請參考：

賴鵬智代表台灣生態旅遊協會與澳洲生態旅遊協會簽訂合作備忘錄致詞稿

英文翻譯：林琪

Time：2014/11/24 19:00

Location: Queensland Club, 19 George St, Brisbane, Australia

 

Dear Angus, Rod, distinguished guests Mr. Ken Lai and Jerry Shyy, and my dear colleagues, 

It’s a great honor and privilege for me to be here today, on behalf of Taiwan Ecotourism Association for signing of memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Ecotourism Australia and Taiwan. It states the development of Ecotourism in Taiwan is in process of growth, to reach a new stage of technology onward. 

Even though Taiwan is a small island contains area only thirty six thousand square kilometers, but rich in natural ecology, biodiversity, and variety of topography scenery. People and government have both acknowledged the importance of conservation on these days, further more the nation diversity caused in result of multicultural life style and unique identity. Each attraction may seem small scale, but fully occupied on each part of Taiwan. 

Started by the Unite Union has named “The international year of Ecotourism” on year 2002, it’s been 12 years that the government authorities has continuing support the academic institutions, NGOs and professionals to promote Ecotourism education and industrial counseling, somehow the development grows slow because of the majority of tourism industry remain their main effort on mass tourism, less percentage operators willing to work on Ecotourism due to the return of profit may take long time beyond their expectation. Anyhow difference from tourism industry, local communities are rather active in Ecotourism development, many of rural communities preformed a significant outcome in conservation, environmental protection, environmental education and benefit of community services. 

The Forestry Bureau is the most active authority for supporting local ecotourism development, many executives even spend their own expenses for this study tour in Australia, fully expressed their deep attentive in this issue. 

We are pleased to have this opportunity to observe the operation system from the relevant industries, during our visit we have learned lots new implement concept, which would be a great contribution to Ecotourism in Taiwan. I would like to present my special thanks to Angus and Rod who organized the perfect journey on our visit in Australia, we could not have accomplished this much without your help and support, please accept our deep appreciation for your generosity. 

The first National Ecotourism Accreditation Program was launched by Australia Ecotourism Association, which is the leader of Ecotourism organization in the world, as well as the model of other related certified organizations in present. The success of development on eco-certified system, sustainable ecotourism, green marketing and environmentally friendly in Australia, all these outstanding performance mean so much for Taiwan to achieve in the long term. 

Taiwan Ecotourism Association was established in 2001. The main purpose is to coordinate with the International Ecotourism 2002 in order to promote Ecotourism in Taiwan. Members include representative of government organizations, academia, NGOs, tourism industry and individuals who interest in this field. Since then through 12 years hard work effort, nowadays people in general, together with tourism industrial workers, and related department governors are getting familiar with what ecotourism doing, and willing to support. But now facing the obstacle of less investment participation, it occurs from lacking of practical profit incentive indeed. Therefore the scale remain still, can’t grow larger, or linked together as a valuable industrial chain in last decade, this is what we need to solve in present, and expect there will be some inspiration from this study tour in Queensland. 

It’s a great honor of Taiwan Ecotourism Association for signing of the cooperation MOU with Ecotourism Australia in order to establish a cooperative partnership, begin a new relationship by nongovernmental tourism organizations between Taiwan and Australia. Through the interactive of technology and idea exchange, there will be so much new methods for Taiwan to learn, this collaboration may stimulate Ecotourism in Taiwan from regional market to global market, become sustainable development in the long term. 

On behalf of the chairman of Taiwan Ecotourism Association Luis Ko, I would like to extend the warm welcome to the representative of Ecotourism Australia, in proceed to visit the beautiful scenery of Taiwan in the near future. And I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to ( Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia）Mr. Ken Lai and Jerry Shyy, taking their time to participate the Signing Ceremony, as well as the executives of Forestry Bureau Taiwan, their accompany and support on this study tour in Australia. Lastly special thanks to Angus and Rod, your host make our journey complete and wonderful. 

It is now my pleasure to wish us all a successful ceremony. Thank you very much.

 

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