Echidna Walkabout shortlisted for another international award.

Melbourne-based wildlife tour operator and social enterprise Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours is in the running to win Seatrade Cruise Award for Most Innovative Shore Excursion.

Shore excursion expert Roger Smith is thrilled with the nomination by Abercrombie & Kent (AKORN) for Echidna Walkabout's shore excursion: “Koala Clancy Foundation & book.”

“The tour involves cruise guests in our wild koala conservation project in the You Yangs near Melbourne,” said Roger.

“The tour is our most successful shore excursion, and to date we've carried over 10,000 passengers on this tour,” he said.

“Bookings have increased 25% since including the koala conservation component.”

“To be shortlisted in this prestigious award is a win for sustainability in the cruise industry.”

“Abercrombie & Kent senior cruise executives David Vass and Amanda Schuddinh will be in Hamburg, Germany for the awards ceremony on 6 September.”

“We have our fingers crossed they pick up the award – Abercrombie & Kent have been so supportive of this concept and deserve credit.”

On this shore excursion, cruise passengers help koalas in four ways:

Guests are encouraged to Make a Home for Koala Clancy by removing one invasive weed that is destroying koala habitat.

Included in the tour cost is a donation to Koala Clancy Foundation to plant trees to create better quality koala habitat for the future.

Guests receive a copy of the book “Koala Clancy of the You Yangs” to take home and spread the message of koala conservation.

The tour pays for wild koala research in the You Yangs, a project that has shown that koalas are in decline in the region and won't survive without our help.

Echidna Walkabout's Make a Home for Koala Clancy project has already delivered benefits to the local koala population. After 10 years of decline, 2016 was the first year that koala numbers increased in the You Yangs.

Abercrombie & Kent's Cruise Ambassador Toby Biddick, who instigated the nomination and submitted the entry, is excited about the award.

“The Innovative Shorex Award regularly receives several hundred nominations, so to be one of three finalists is a win already,” he said.

“We nominated Echidna Walkabout's tour because they have got the balance right – their tour is loved by our guests and regularly sells out; plus the tour is really helping koalas.”

Read about how Echidna Walkabout's tours are helping koalas here http://www.echidnawalkabout.com.au/about/conservation/

ABOUT ECHIDNA WALKABOUT NATURE TOURS:

Founded in 1993 by Janine Duffy & Roger Smith, Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours is an international award-winning, mission-driven social enterprise that offers wildlife tours for cruise and independent international travellers. The owners started the not for profit Koala Clancy Foundation which works with local volunteers and educational groups. They won Gold for “Best for Wildlife Conservation” at the World Responsible Travel Awards in London in 2014.

Echidna Walkabout's popular half-day and full day shore excursions are included in the Melbourne programs of the world's major cruise ships including Carnival Corporation vessels, Royal Caribbean, Crystal Cruises and The World.

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High resolution images and interviews available on request.

Media Contact:

Janine Duffy Ph: 03 9646 8249 or 0427 808 747 Email: janine@echidnawalkabout.com.au