Ecotourism Australia launched its inaugural Global Sustainable Tourism Summit in Meanjin (Brisbane) on Wednesday.

The two-day event at Pullman Mercure Hotel in King George Square, one of the first hotels in Australia to receive Sustainable Tourism Certification from Ecotourism Australia, aims to inspire and empower tourism businesses by focusing on sustainability.

Session two featured presentations on key topics: "Ecotourism as a Transition Economy" by First Nations Principal Advisor, Cliff Cobbo, at WWF-Australia and "Tourism and Positive Socio-Economic Impact" by CEO of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, Matt Cameron-Smith.

Mr Cobbo is a proud Wakka Wakka man from Southern Queensland and the First Nations Principal Adivsor at WWF - Australia.

WWF have partnered with Ecotourism Australia on numerous projects such as a response to the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20 to help build the affected communities back up.

Mr Cobbo touched on the imperative importance of land management and cultural care still needed on our lands.

"We need need to translate our words into actions and more importanly we need to translate our values into actions," he said.

Issues such as climate change, flora and fauna extinction and other biodiversity topics are at the forefront of these values.

"Our mission often conflicts with industries that prioritise short-term interests over the long-term health of country," Mr Cobbo said.

"We know from decades of experience - worldwide, that the only way to achieve long-term convservation success is to bring community along and help them reach their economic needs."

He noted that despite Australia being one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world, it also is one of the most prolific states in terms of deforestation.

Mr Cameron-Smith spoke to the significance working with the Anangu community, Traditional Owners of Uluru-Kata Tjutu National Park.

He is a director of the Anangu Communities Foundation, a charitable trust established by Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia.

They work with Anangu through local organisations to fund projects in the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara (NPY) region in Central Australia that address inequity and demonstrate outcomes, making a positive outcome in Anangu communities.

Ayre's Rock Resort operates on Anangu land and provides a number of opportunities for Traditional Owners to work and share their culture with visitors.

"Every guest we have makes an economic impact to the community," Mr Cameron-Smith said.

"We want to be able to be able to elevate and amplify culture, but importantly have those who own the culture share their stories.

"We now have 215 Indigenous employees at Ayre's Rock resort, but that's not enough... the Brisbane flight will help us grow that significantly."

This is a result of Virgin Australia resuming flights to Uluru last year, which were initially cancelled due to COVID-19.