Qld indigenous tourism

THE Queensland Government has announced a range of initiatives to boost the state’s indigenous tourism offering after declaring 2020 the “Year of Queensland Indigenous Tourism” (TD 11 Nov 2019).

The Queensland Government will work closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to develop an indigenous tourism strategy for South East Queensland.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the government wanted to give tourists greater access to indigenous cultural experiences and to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with more business and employment opportunities.

A South East Queensland Indigenous Tourism Working Group formed by traditional owner groups will “identify gaps and opportunities to develop the tourism industry to deliver broad benefits across the entire region”, she said.

The Palaszczuk Government also launched a $10 million indigenous tourism fund to create economic opportunities and jobs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders.

The fund will support new and unique indigenous tourism products and experiences in Queensland, particularly in regional areas.

A dedicated Indigenous Tourism Development Service will also be established to support indigenous tourism in the state.

Qld Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the new service would work with emerging and established operators to start and grow their businesses and products.

“Now more than ever before, we’re seeing strong demand for cultural tourism experiences in Queensland,” she said.