In a fight to counter the rising Aussie dollar, the head of Ecotourism Australia says tour operators and the products they offer must become more sustainable.

Noosa is soon to hold the Global Eco Asia Pacific Tourism Conference and Kym Cheatham said the tourism industry must do everything in its power to protect the natural environment in which they operate, and in doing so, offer a "guilt free" experience to travellers.

“We are going to see a considerable percentage of businesses buckle, just at the time demand for ecotourism and nature- based experiences is flourishing,” Ms Cheatham told Travel Today.

“Our product is not cheap, so it needs to be of the highest quality with the most credible ecotourism credentials.”

Adopting practices such as converting to 100% renewable energy, installing solar panels, and enforcing recycling programs such as those running at Meridien Marina are already being undertake by industry leaders.

Winner of Port Douglas Magazine's Recommended Ecotourism Operator Award, Sailaway IV is a local example.

Carbon neutral sailing, carbon footprint measurements, climate change business planning, and reforestation projects are some of the measures the company puts in place to ensure a sustainable experience for guests.

Ms Cheatham said that Australia is experiencing strong growth in ecotourism with a growth rat of 20% per year.

Competition in this market is also growing around the world with Peru, Chile, Cambodia, and Korea all recognising the potential.

The Korean Government has invested heavily in ecotourism operations due to the demand domestically.

“There is strong domestic support for this operation already, which indicates we may have another market to tap in to if Koreans are enthused by their experiences domestically,” Ms Cheatham said.