New ‘LGBTI Friendly’ standards for Tasmanian Tourism

The Tasmanian tourism industry has become the first tourism industry in Australia to introduce standards around what it constitutes to be ‘gay friendly’ in tourism, with the clear purpose of making Tasmania the most inclusive and inviting tourism destination in the country.

Tourism Minister Scott Bacon MP today launched ‘Rainbow Tasmania Tourism Accreditation Module’ –developed by Tourism Industry Council Tasmania and Rainbow Communities Tasmania as an add-on module to the national Australian Tourism Accreditation Program (ATAP).

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Luke Martin, said the new module was initiated by Rainbow Communities Tasmania, as a way to introduce quality assurance standards for visitors to Tasmania identifying as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual or Intersex (LGBTI).

“For many years Tasmanian tourism operators wishing to be recognised as a ‘gay friendly’ tourism business, have displayed a Rainbow Tasmanian Map as a symbol of this commitment, but with no standards underpinning this brand” Mr Martin said.

“Rainbow Tasmania Tourism Accreditation has now been developed in partnership with the Tasmanian LGBTI community, to provide a practical way for tourism operators to demonstrate that their business treats all people in the same non-discriminatory manner and provide a safe and comfortable environment for their LGBTI clients, while ensuring they are also meeting their legal responsibilities under the Anti-Discrimination Act.”

Public Officer of Rainbow Communities Tasmania, Mr Julian Punch AM, said the accreditation framework asked tourism operators wishing to promote their business as ‘LGBTI friendly’ would need to demonstrate a level of compliance against the following criterion:

• Have considered and acknowledged their responsibilities under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998;

• Undertaken reasonable steps to ensure their workplace is free from harassment and discrimination;

• Undertaken themselves, and/or introduced as part of their staff induction and workforce development processes, Anti-Discrimination training;

• Signed a Code of Ethics Statement on behalf of their business that they aspire to meet basic standards in their service delivery to LGBTI communities; and

• Committed to display within their business information on LGBTI services and other Rainbow-Tasmania Tourism Accredited tourism operators.

“We are really pleased with the framework that has been developed and particularly that it is linked to the robust Australian Tourism Accreditation Program (ATAP), that covers over 1,100 tourism businesses in Tasmania.”

“We think it is a practical way for tourism operators to demonstrate their awareness of the unique issues for LGBTI communities and desire for Tasmania to be recognised as a destination of choice for this market.”

“We commend the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania, and Tourism Tasmania, for their commitment to this initiative and encourage all accredited tourism operators to complete the new module.”

Mr Martin said if the new module is a success there is the potential for it to be expanded across the Australian tourism industry in other states with the ATAP program.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Luke Martin