RECOGNITION AT THE 1998 VICTORIAN TOURISM AWARDS

by Jim Curtis

Polperro Dolphin Swims' recognition at the 1998 Victorian Tourism Awards illustrates that successful tourism is not always about attracting the greatest number of visitors or maximising profits. Although such pursuits are typical of many tourism enterprises and are often used as measurements of success, they are not always an accurate indication of quality or the individual merits of an operation.

In an environmental context, natural limitations and personal philosophies may dictate a more precautionary and responsible approach which involves restricting visitor numbers and placing the welfare of a fragile resource ahead of profits. This is very much the case at Polperro Dolphin Swims. We choose to limit passenger quotas and trip numbers as a means of ensuring that we provide high quality and safe experiences for our customers. But most importantly, we make these choices for the sake of protecting one of Victoria's most majestic and symbolic natural resources which is the dolphin population of Port Phillip Bay.

Although adopting such an approach occurs at the expense of profits, the staff at Polperro Dolphin Swims would have little hesitation in saying that they consider themselves some of the richest individuals in the world. This is because they have the pleasure of providing people with the increasingly rare opportunity to interact with a wild animal in its own natural environment. To witness on a regular basis the mutual trust, enjoyment and respect which emerges from these interactions is undeniably special. So in an era where terms such as 'ecotourism' are being cynically viewed as merely opportunistic marketing ploys, Polperro Dolphin Swims provides a genuine challenge to such scepticism. Our success and recognition as an ecologically sound operation illustrates that concepts of sustainabilty and environmental education have a legitimate role to play within the tourism industry. This is because they aspire to protect the resources which tourism activities rely on for their success.

By promoting, embracing and instilling such concepts, the long-term benefits to Victoria's tourism industry will be nothing short of great and will contribute to the state's reputation as an attractive tourist destination.