World Indigenous Tourism Summit hosting passes from Perth to Taiwan

Following the success of the World Indigenous Tourism Summit (WITS) in Perth last week, hosting of the third edition of the Summit - to be held in 2024 - has now moved to Taiwan.

More than 550 delegates, of whom 15% were from overseas, convened for the four-day program,

hosted by the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators’ Council, one of the founding members of the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance.

Originally due to have been held in 2020, the Summit’s theme was ‘Tourism and Indigenous Earth Wisdom: Weaving the Future that Benefits All’.

The concept for the World Indigenous Tourism Summit was developed by the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance 11 years ago in Perth, with the inaugural summit held in Waitangi, New Zealand in 2018.

At the close of the Summit, representatives from Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Ministry of Transportation and Communications Tourism Bureau along with the Taiwan Visitors Association were present for a handover ceremony to the third WITS host.  

Looking forward to the 2024 conference, Icyang Parod, Taiwan's Minister of the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP), stated “various spheres of indigenous persons lives are closely related to tourism. In these spheres, indigenous persons can guide and explain tours from an indigenous perspective, and share in tourism's benefits.

“Through development of the tourism industry, indigenous persons can increase their incomes with a sustainable business model.”

During the Perth Summit, Taiwan's delegation also participated in roundtables with government agencies, youth, and scholars.

On the sidelines of these events, and to market unique aspects of Taiwan's indigenous tourism, the CIP promoted Taiwan indigenous tourism through mobile tourism information, online tours, and indigenous music, dance and other activities, filling Perth with Taiwan's indigenous cultures.

Taiwan has 16 indigenous groups, each with its own language, lifestyle, and culture with language, archaeological, genetic and paper mulberry research indicating those in the Austronesian language groups migrated from Taiwan.

Click here for more information on the World Indigenous Tourism Summit in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Images: Kimberly Wilderness Adventures in Western Australia's Bungle Bungle National Park (top) and Australia's Patrick Gorman, MP and Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister (third from left) receiving a glazed Taiwan pictorial charm from Icyang Parod, Taiwan's Minister of the Council of Indigenous Peoples at last week's conference (below, credit: Council of Indigenous Peoples, Taiwan).