A chance to share culture

THE Far North is celebrating the Year of Indigenous Tourism by being the first to be granted funding under the Palaszczuk government’s new $10 million Growing Indigenous Tourism in Queensland Fund.

The $400,000 grant, to be matched by Tourism Tropical North Queensland in kind, is to help market smaller indigenous tourism ventures overseas.

The region is the only place where Australia’s two indigenous cultures can be experienced and there are more than 80 enterprises, making the Far North the capital of indigenous tourism.

High-profile Tjapukai has the budget to market overseas, but little operators simply don’t have the funds.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Mark Olsen says modest products will now come to the fore.

“Many of these tourism operators are small businesses started by traditional owners to share their unique culture and stories with the world,” he says.

“These businesses do not have the capital to market their business internationally, yet they offer the experiences that a growing number of travellers are demanding.

”This funding could assist these businesses to join TTNQ and Tourism and Events Queensland at trade shows where they can promote the destination’s indigenous product.”

Jarramali Rock Art Tours owner Johnny Murison is delighted as it is costing him a lot of money to be part of TTNQ’s indigenous tourism stand at the Australian Tourism Exchange.

He says it will not only raise his profile, but those of other indigenous products which deserve to be showcased.

Nick Dalton

Deputy editor