Four of the international tourist companies operating in Byron Shire have pledged, in future, to put the amenity of residents before profit, when signing up new providers and advertising on the internet.
The companies concerned are Airbnb, Stayz, Uber and Ola, and the promise comes in a motion on the agenda of the annual conference of the Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility, starting today in Surfers Paradise.
A spokesperson for the Alliance, Jane Felthrup, admitted there was some uncertainty over whether the event would take place at all, given the current fears of COVID-19.
However, according to Ms Felthrup, the in-principle agreement of the four internet tourist operators to rein in their marketing tactics is too important to lose.
‘All delegates feel a social responsibility to attend and to ratify the agenda,’ she said.
Nevertheless, organisers are taking no chances, and have brought forward the start of the conference to April 1, instead of the original date of April 22, when medical authorities predict virus infections will peak.
Wish it was true! can’t see it ever happening.