Action plan launched

WORK on the First Nations Tourism Action Plan has started, with workshops to create more opportunities for Indigenous tourism and help lead the industry in a new direction.

The workshops will be held at 13 locations from Innisfail to Thursday Island and Normanton, from April 18 to June 14.

A steering committee has been formed to lead the actourism tion plan; it includes members of the Indigenous academic community, as well as the Wet Tropics Management Authority, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, and the Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils.

Committee co-chairperson Dale Mundraby said the plan was about supporting emerging Indigenous experiences.

“For far too long the Indigenous experience or voice in has been very quiet, always spoken about in the background,” he said

“Now through this planning process we bring this to the forefront and we can be heard.” Mr Mundraby said the first step was consultation with the communities.

“With that consultation we will build together and identify what other steps are necessary to do in an indigenous experience, what other steps to do sustainable operating business,” he said.

Steering committee cochairman Willie EnochTranby said it was an opportunity to get new people involved.

“It’s about getting those communities from here (Cairns) up to the whole Cape throughout our region, just getting in there talking to people on the ground and listen to their aspirations,” Mr Enoch-Tranby said.

“Part of the strategy is to mould the aspirations and give them a bit of direction.

“The biggest outcomes will be job creation, looking after country and enabling non-Indigenous people to experience what the connection is.” Mr Mundraby said it would allow more opportunities to experience the Indigenous product.

“We’ve all done the reef and the rainforest and we will continue to do that but an aspect of that experience is the Indigenous experience to the country. Being able to do that is world class,” he said.