The challenge: transforming tourism's environmental impact

Whilst travellers increasingly seek sustainable experiences, tourism businesses often struggle to implement meaningful environmental initiatives. Traditional carbon offsetting models lack trust, transparency and engagement, leaving travellers sceptical and destinations unable to effectively demonstrate their commitment to sustainability. Reforest recognised this gap and developed a holistic, technology-driven solution.

The innovation: a regenerative tourism platform

Reforest’s platform empowers tourism destinations to implement comprehensive regenerative tourism programs, moving beyond traditional carbon offsetting. The platform simplifies the integration of climate action and nature restoration into everyday business operations, enabling tourism operators to effortlessly engage their customers in tangible environmental activities. Through locally-driven reforestation projects, the platform provides an accessible and meaningful way for businesses and their customers to actively contribute to local ecosystem repair. An interactive dashboard aggregates the activity of every business and visitor, fostering transparency and driving collective momentum towards Net Zero.

Image of Mobile phone display of the Reforest app interface. It shows an aerial map of Cooroy, Australia, with icons indicating planting, protecting, and removing initiatives. The app reports
Through Reforest’s intuitive mobile app, customers can easily explore and track their unique contribution to local ecosystem restoration.
Screenshot of the Tourism Tropical North Queensland Sustainability Hub webpage. The page features sections for
A look inside Reforest’s interactive dashboard powering regenerative tourism programs for Tourism Tropical North Queensland.

Ignite Ideas impact: accelerating commercialisation and expansion

The Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas funding has been pivotal in accelerating Reforest's commercialisation and expansion. Building upon a successful pilot with Visit Sunshine Coast, the funding enables Reforest to launch their platform in multiple Queensland tourism destinations and expand beyond state borders. Internationally, Reforest is set to launch a new program in Fiji, with several other global tourism destinations expressing strong interest in adopting the platform to create their own regenerative tourism initiatives.

The benefits: environmental restoration and economic growth

Reforest’s platform delivers significant benefits:

  • Environmental restoration: The platform facilitates the restoration of significant hectares of Queensland land with measurable impact that contributing to biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.
  • Enhanced tourism sustainability: Reforest empowers tourism businesses to adopt sustainable practices, meeting the growing demand for responsible travel.
  • Increased traveller engagement: The platform provides travellers with a tangible and personalised experience, fostering a deeper connection with the destinations they visit.
  • Economic opportunities: Reforest supports local economies through reforestation projects that generate employment and community engagement.
  • Regional tourism leadership: RTOs are empowered to lead their local industries towards Net Zero with a powerful digital platform.
Photo of group of people celebrating with tools and seedlings at a reforestation site.
Tourism businesses from Visit Sunshine Coast joining Reforest and Noosa Landcare for a collaborative planting day in the Noosa hinterland.

The future: global expansion and regenerative tourism leadership

Reforest is positioned to become a global leader in regenerative travel solutions. With a scalable Software as a Service platform and strong international interest, the company plans to extend its impact well beyond Queensland. By connecting global tourism destinations and travel operators with high-quality local ecosystem restoration projects, Reforest is cultivating a future where tourism contributes to the well-being of both people and the planet.

About Ignite Ideas

The Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas program provides vital support to innovative Queensland businesses, helping them to accelerate their growth and bring their groundbreaking ideas to market.

For Reforest, this funding proved to be a catalyst for significant expansion. It will enable the company to build upon their successful pilot program, scale their operations, and reach new tourism destinations, both within Queensland and beyond. The Ignite Ideas grant provided essential resources to refine their platform, expand their team, and establish crucial partnerships, ensuring the rapid commercialisation of their regenerative tourism solution.

Find out if Ignite funding could help you!

More innovation in your inbox?

Subscribe to Advance Queensland’s e-newsletter to stay up to date with the latest opportunities and learn more about innovation in Queensland.

Last updated: 08 Apr 2025