Aboriginal tourism plan and funding launched at Western Australian regional conference

The release of the Tjina: Western Australian Aboriginal Tourism Action Plan and supporting $20 million Aboriginal Tourism Fund at the WA Regional Tourism Conference this week is aiming to make the state a leading destination for authentic cultural experiences.

Advising thatthe agency has been working closely with the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC), the Aboriginal tourism industry, and other government agencies to develop the four-year action plan for the industry, Tourism WA acting Managing Director Derryn Belford stated “Aboriginal tourism is a rapidly growing sector of our industry in WA, with visitors keen to discover the stories and traditions of one of the oldest surviving cultures on Earth.

“This plan will make sure people have more access to these authentic experiences, with the increased funding supporting their development into the future.”

Speaking at the WA Regional Tourism Conference in Geraldton yesterday, Bedford said the agency is excited to be a part of the rollout of some great programs to assist the sector over the coming years, including new Aboriginal tourism experiences and Camping with Custodian campgrounds.

She noted “Camping with Custodians is an Australian-first program that has already seen five high quality campgrounds developed on Aboriginal lands - all open to the public and operated by the community.

“These sites generate income, employment, training opportunities and are a chance to showcase local culture. We look forward to investigating the potential for more sites in the near future.

“This announcement will also support an increase in Aboriginal tourism experiences on the Dampier Peninsula, including an extension of the Camping with Custodians program.

“This will provide some great opportunities for Aboriginal communities to get involved in the tourism industry, and share their culture, knowledge and history.”

Held in Geraldton this week, with more than 280 tourism industry representatives in attendance, the three-day 2021 Perth Airport WA Regional Tourism Conference was jointly hosted by Tourism Council WA, Visitor Centres WA, Caravan Industry Association WA, FACET, WAITOC and Australia's Coral Coast.

In addition to Belford, Tourism WA Chairman Nathan Harding and Tourism Australia Managing Director Pip Harrison spoke at the event.

Click here for more information on Tjina: Western Australian Aboriginal Tourism Action Plan.

Image courtesy of WellStrategic.