First Nations tourism operators are enjoying increased business as international tourism numbers return to Tropical North Queensland.
Some operators reported record figures at the TNQ Indigenous Experiences Cluster Group meeting held today during Indigenous Business Month.
Juan Walker, TNQ Indigenous Experiences Cluster Group Co-Chair, said his business, Walkabout Cultural Adventures, which operates tours on Kuku Yalanji Country, had improved sales by 13 per cent.
“I anticipate further growth after joining Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) on international trade missions in the Western markets over the past year including a roadshow in the United Kingdom and Europe as well as attending the Australian Tourism Exchange,” he said.
“We are already getting bookings for September and October next year, like we were achieving before Covid, and international business is now more than 70 per cent of our market.
“Queensland has the highest number of Indigenous-owned and led products on country and more and more people are interested in working in tourism to create a unique experience on the country where they come from.”
Mark Olsen, Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) Chief Executive Officer, said seven Indigenous products had been mentored over the past year to understand how to work with the international tourism distribution system.
He added that the destination now had 41 trade-ready experiences in the TNQ Deeper into Dreaming brochure.
“The Indigenous Experiences cluster has been invaluable in helping to grow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism and was behind the TNQ First Nations Tourism Action Plan which launched in May 2023 recognising that all tourism is on country,” he added.
“The Indigenous experience in tourism is a form of reconciliation that has a huge positive impact in helping to close the gap. It allows visitors to connect in a respectful way to country, culture and the people at the heart of it.”
Main Picture Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre. Courtesy TTNQ.
https://tourism.tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au/indigenous-experiences/
