The New Zealand’s green tourism verification scheme is called Qualmark Green.
It has recently been picked up by one of Asia’s largest travel agencies, JTB, Japan Travel Bureau, the leading Japanese travel agency.
“The Qualmark Green-accredited luxury tour to New Zealand is the first of its kind in the world, providing a range of environmentally-sustainable New Zealand travel products in one package,” said Mr Hiromi Tagawa, President and CEO of JTB Corporation. “New Zealand is the only country in the world with such a robust quality assessment program incorporating strict environmental sustainability practices, fully supported by their national airline.”
It is indeed enouraging for Qualmark Green to be recognized by such a famous agency.
JTB’s ‘Royal Road’, using a theme of eco-luxury, has packaged up an itinerary featuring almost exclusively Qualmark and Qualmark-Green accredited tourism operators in New Zealand including: Millbrook Resort Queenstown, Huka Lodge in Taupo, The Langham Hotel in Auckland, Johnstons Coachlines, and Real Journeys in Milford Sound.
The Royal Road tour also includes a certified carbon-offset contribution for participants and all Royal Road customers will have a tree planted in their name, with GPS tracking, at Mangarara station in the Hawke’s bay – as part of Air New Zealand’s Environmental Trust programme.
Other JTB package tour brands ‘Look’ and ‘Grand Tour’ have also launched new itineraries based on Qualmark-only accredited operators. JTB is aiming to include only Qualmark accredited suppliers in its package tours within the next year.
more info at http://www.responsibletourism.co.nz/