“We would love to see more business to come through B2B and that’s what we’re working on,” said Arnicar, who is currently in discussions with several agency networks including Travel Associates and AUNZ Holidays.
“Our team have been working through travel trade distribution for many years, and travel agents play an important role in our success. It is also easier to manage client enquiries when a travel agent is involved.”
Commissionable rates are on offer and Arnicar is keen to talk to agents about co-marketing opportunities in the future.
In the meantime, AGT will soon complete its acquisition of 30-year-old Echidna Walkabout Tours, a deal which was struck in 2023.
Echidna will transition to AGT, while founder Roger Smith retires from the business next month.
At the time of the acquisition, Smith described the shift as “a defining move for conservation travel in Australia”.
“It’s also a massive boost for both companies allowing us to share alternative and ethical travel ideas and resources to our clients,” he said.
The same Echidna team is at AGT, but bookings will now go through AGT.
Going off-the-beaten-track
Launched in 2021 as a partnership between Australian Geographic and Insight Australia, AGT offers 40 nature-based small group tours with unique experiences.
The adventures are capped at 10-12 guests with a minimum of four, although most feature six to eight visitors with one guide. Due to the small numbers, not only are visitors able to immerse themselves within the tour, groups are also able to travel to more remote areas that larger groups are often unable to access.
While the majority of AGT’s target customers are 50+, Arnica has noticed a surge in younger guests from 35-50 years.
“We really want the guests to learn, understand and feel connected, and not just be one of 30 people getting off a bus and maybe not hearing what’s been said,” said Arnica.
Unlike other operators that may run tours every week for two months, AGT offers five or six departures maximum.
One of the highlights of AGT’s touring offerings include the women’s-only Djugun, Bardi and Jawai cultural experience on Oolin Sunday Island in Western Australia, with Rosanna Angus, 2023’s Australian Tour Guide of the Year.
Led by Indigenous women from the local communities, participants experience traditional welcome ceremonies, access sacred lands and a boat trip to Sunday Island, dancing, oystering, fishing, crafting and enjoy other activities.
Other adventures include a four-day astrophotography experience in outback South Australia, a tropical birding tour in North Queensland and a nine-day history tour through outback Queensland, and plenty more.
AGT’s proposition aligns well with current trends in the travel market. Although the current economic climate may influence travel decisions, research from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that there is still a desire for Australians to explore their own backyard.
“While the percentage of Australians intending to take a holiday overseas continues to increase – now at 5.2 million (23% of Australians, up 5 percentage points from a year ago), domestic travel pursuits remain the mainstay of how Australians travel whether discovering new places or returning to familiar spots, with 13 million Australians planning a domestic holiday (57% of Australians) over the next 12 months,” said Roy Morgan’s former Head of Travel and Tourism, Adele Labine-Romain.
At the height of COVID, AGT ran its first tour, which was eagerly embraced by frustrated Australians ready to bust out of their homes. Eventually, when international borders re-opened, bookings decreased, although by 2023, Arnica noticed “Australians ‘flocking back’ to birdwatching, nature-based, and culturally immersive travel within Australia”.
“From outback deserts and ancient rainforests to pristine coastlines and wildlife-rich wetlands, the beauty is you don’t have to go far to experience unique wildlife, stunning landscapes, and create unforgettable memories,” said Arnica.
“If you stay local and spend local, you are actively supporting local communities and travelling sustainably.”
AGT has also recently launched its first international tours in New Zealand, given the island’s diverse bird life, including a concentration of endemic species.
The two small-group birding journeys take place on one or both islands, which can be combined for an epic adventure. Highlights include sighting endemic King shags at Marlborough Sounds, alpine birding at Arthur’s Pass, kiwi night walks at Stewart Island, searching for the critically endangered Malherbe’s parakeet at Blumine Island and visiting sanctuaries such as Tiritiri Matangi, Kapiti Island, and Zealandia.
“The concept of conservation travel is gaining real momentum, and data clearly supports this trend,” said Arnicar.
“One area we’re particularly focused on is ‘leading by example’. We want to see what tangible steps operators are taking to reduce their carbon footprint. This includes minimising travel emissions wherever possible and offsetting those we cannot reduce.”
“Equally important is having a positive impact on the destinations we visit. This can involve partnering with local conservation projects, supporting habitat restoration, and ensuring that tourism contributes meaningfully to community wellbeing and biodiversity,” he added.
AGT is focused on six pillars to support its sustainability framework, from working with local communities, supporting the indigenous community, taking action on climate change and encouraging responsible travel on its tours.
Initiatives include measuring and disclosing all emissions, regenerating and protecting ecosystems, directly engaging with the services of Indigenous businesses, offering citizen science activities, recruiting highly qualified guides to educate guests on tour and more.
Meanwhile, all profits from Australian Geographic go to its registered charity, the Australian Geographic Society, which funds conservation and sustainable grants.
