Northern Territory News
Wednesday 17/9/2008 Page: 8
THE Territory Government has purchased 5000 tonnes of carbon credits to help make NT tourism carbon neutral. Tourism Minister Kon Vatskalis said the $150,000 "Outback Offsets" program would attract environmentally conscious travellers from the UK and Europe. The carbon credits were bought from the Shoal Bay Landfill - which generates electricity from methane harvested from waste. The pilot program would apply to Adventure Tours Australia, Connections and Wayoutback Desert Safaris - who collectively snake up 40 per cent of tours in Central Australia.
Mr Vatskalis said the tours have a greater carbon footprint than the flight to the Territory. "What is significant is when people get off the plane, get in a taxi, get in a four-wheel-drive, go out bush, go camping or go to a hotel." he said. The program was endorsed by the World Wildlife Fund. WWF Territory campaigner Stuart Blanch said the entire tourism industry should aim to be carbon neutral. "Our tourism sector is based on travel to remote areas. We can greatly reduce the energy we use to get there and offset the rest." Mr Blanch said.
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