Indigenous tourism entrepreneurs look to advance opportunities at Lorne conference

Having seeded many Indigenous entrepreneurs across Australia over its 13 year history, the 2018 Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference (AITC) is to be hosted on Eastern Maar country on the Great Ocean Road, home of the Gadubanud people.

Set to be held from 30th October to 1st November, the conference offers participants the opportunity to connect, share and hear from a range of tourism and related businesses operating across Australia, as well as internationally.

Delegates will also get an opportunity to inform arrangements for the World Indigenous Tourism Summit (WITS) to be held in Perth in 2020, providing the opportunity for aspirational, and existing business operators and those tasked to support Aboriginal business growth to learn more about and promote Aboriginal-led tourism experience on a national and world-stage.

Eastern Maar Chief Executive Jamie Lowe urges all those with an interest in growing the Aboriginal tourism product and opportunity to get to Lorne to, as he says, to learn about “amazing Aboriginal led tourism experiences (that) are happening across Australia in regional, remote and urban contexts.”

Lowe also applauds the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC) and the Victorian Government as the lead sponsor, along with other sponsors for their belief in the value of Aboriginal tourism and the positive impacts for regions, and Aboriginal communities themselves.

He adds “tourism contributes strongly to economic development, employment, improved wellbeing and social cohesion between Aboriginal people and the broader Australian community, and international communities.”

Leanne Miller, Yorta Yorta woman and Outback Academy Australia Chairperson, - a WAITOC member that promotes opportunities for young people, women, and accessible tourism product is excited about how this conference is growing the engagement of youth in this industry, advising that “we need to grow the next generation of culturally strong, capable, and ethical entrepreneurs across all industries, including tourism.”

WAITOC Chief Executive Rob Taylor agrees, concluding “it was great to see at this year’s WITC the engagement of young people. Our AITC Youth Forum participants, and young Coffee Artists from Victoria and WA will showcase and share their aspirations and advice to engagement of youth in the tourism industry.”

Click here for event details in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.