Australia Unites With New zealand In Running Some New Green‑tourism Scams And How In The Name Of Eco Tourism These Countries Are Cheating Travellers: Here Is What You Need To Know

Published on November 1, 2025

Green tourism, besides known as eco‑tourism, offers a chance to acquisition nan world’s earthy beauty while contributing to its preservation. Travelers flock to Australia and New Zealand in hopes of participating successful eco-friendly activities, from volunteering for conservation projects to booking self-contained eco‑lodges. However, conscionable arsenic nan greenish tourism manufacture grows, truthful do nan opportunities for fraudulent operators and scams that prey connected well-meaning eco-conscious travelers. In this article, we will research immoderate of the common greenish tourism scams in some countries, based connected real-world information from 2024 and 2025.

The Growing Green Tourism Industry

As some Australia and New Zealand proceed to promote sustainable travel experiences, they’re attracting a caller activity of visitors eager to trim their c footprint. From carbon-neutral lodges to wildlife conservation tours, galore operators are eager to cater to this rising demand. However, conscionable arsenic successful immoderate booming sector, not each operators are morganatic aliases ethical.

Greenwashing: Misleading Sustainable Claims

A concerning inclination in eco-tourism is greenwashing, wherever companies exaggerate aliases falsely advertise their environmental credentials to pull customers. In Australia, a study into nan country’s c in installments scheme—known arsenic the Emissions Reduction Fund—revealed that galore of the carbon offsets being sold to consumers were largely ineffective. These offsets, which were marketed arsenic portion of eco-tours aliases sustainable packages, were often not further (meaning they wouldn’t person occurred anyway), raising questions astir their real biology value.

According to a 2024 report in The Guardian, many Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) were awarded for actions that were already happening aliases that would person happened without nan in installments scheme. Travelers paying a premium for “carbon-neutral” vacations aliases activities whitethorn unknowingly beryllium supporting empty claims rather than existent biology sustainability.

Tourist Scams successful Australia: Overcharging & Fake Bookings

In summation to greenwashing, travelers to Australia often autumn unfortunate to traditional recreation scams. In 2024, a study recovered that 36% of Australian holidaymakers had knowledgeable immoderate shape of scam—ranging from overcharging and fake tours to taxi scams and phishing attacks targeting travel bookings. One important emergence successful scams occurred through AI-generated emails mimicking morganatic recreation companies, tricking visitors into revealing their individual details.

For those seeking eco-friendly travel experiences, scams tin involve misleading bookings for eco-lodges, wherever nan spot whitethorn not be environmentally certified, aliases nan offset claims are exaggerated. If you’re paying other for “sustainable” experiences, ever double-check if nan circuit usability is legitimately certified or if nan greenish claims are simply a trading gimmick.

Fraudulent Eco-Volunteer Tours

Eco-volunteering tours are a celebrated facet of greenish tourism successful New Zealand, wherever travelers participate successful activities for illustration wildlife conservation and character planting. However, these programs tin beryllium rife with fraudulent operators. In 2023, New Zealand’s consumer watchdog raised concerns astir the We Are Bamboo company, which marketed itself arsenic an ethical eco-tourism provider. Unfortunately, nan institution folded, leaving galore visitors retired of pouch and without nan unpaid experiences they’d been promised.

This arena serves arsenic a stark reminder: while galore visitors are looking for authentic unpaid experiences to thief protect nan environment, immoderate operators are capitalizing connected this goodwill and offering subpar aliases non-existent programs. Before booking a volunteer tour, ever cheque for verified testimonials and guarantee that nan institution has a history of delivering connected its promises.

The Green Tourism Scam Landscape

Campervan Rental Scams successful New Zealand

In New Zealand, 1 of nan astir prevalent scams successful nan eco-tourism assemblage is related to campervan rentals. Many visitors opt for self-contained vans for state camping, often marketed arsenic a more sustainable way to research nan country. However, fraudulent rental companies sometimes advertise cheap or substandard vans, which whitethorn not be legally self-contained or neglect to meet nan necessary safety standards.

Travelers person reported hidden harm charges, missing certifications, and moreover expired Warrant of Fitness (WOF)checks, each of which are basal for legal camping in New Zealand. These scams return advantage of nan greenish tourism trend, pinch renters believing they are making an eco-friendly prime only to extremity up stuck pinch unexpected costs.

Fake Accommodation Listings: Overcharging and Hidden Fees

Another communal scam successful New Zealand involves fake accommodation listings. Some travelers searching for eco-lodges aliases sustainable stays person been tricked by websites promoting non-existent properties or accommodation that is acold beneath nan advertised eco-friendly standard. These clone listings whitethorn inquire for upfront payments, and erstwhile visitors arrive, they find that nan spot doesn’t beryllium aliases is successful a poor condition.

Overcharging is besides a awesome issue, pinch immoderate eco-accommodation providers charging hidden fees for alleged “green amenities,” specified arsenic “carbon offsets,” which whitethorn not beryllium valid. Before making a booking, travelers should corroborate the eco-certifications and cheque for third-party reviews to debar these deceptive practices.

How to Avoid Green Tourism Scams

1. Verify Eco-Credentials

If an accommodation aliases circuit usability claims to beryllium eco-friendly aliases carbon-neutral, inquire for circumstantial grounds of their sustainability practices. This mightiness see certifications from environmental bodies, aliases archiving connected really they offset their c emissions. Avoid vague claims for illustration “we’re committed to sustainability” without concrete proof.

2. Check Reviews and Reputation

Always read customer reviews from trusted sources (such as TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, aliases eco-tourism forums) earlier booking eco-friendly tours aliases accommodations. Scams often trust connected attracting customers quickly done flashy advertisements, but reviews tin uncover whether a institution follows done connected its promises.

3. Avoid Upfront Payments for Volunteering

Be wary of eco-volunteering tours that require large upfront payments, particularly those promising hands-onconservation work. Look for reliable organizations with established reputations, and if successful doubt, cheque with local tourism boards or agencies to verify nan authenticity of a program.

4. Be Cautious pinch “Too Good to Be True” Deals

Discounted rates on eco-tourism packages that sound excessively bully to beryllium existent often are. Always inquire for a elaborate breakdown of what’s included successful nan price, particularly if there’s mention of carbon offsetting or “green” amenities.