Indigenous tourism in Western Australia is presented with a unique opportunity through the partnership of Tourism WA and the Western Australian Indigenous Tour Operators Committee (WAITOC) to position the state as Australia's premier destination for authentic, personal experiences with Aboriginal culture.
Tourism WA entered into a three year marketing and services agreement with WAITOC effective from October 2010. This arrangement has been made possible through a 'Royalties for Regions' funding project between the Department of Regional Development and Lands and Tourism Western Australia. This arrangement will allow WAITOC to continue to grow its marketing activities and increase promotion of indigenous tourism product whilst working towards a sustainability plan for the organization. For more information please visit www.waitoc.com.
Indigenous tourism often has Aboriginal culture as its main focus, although tourism generally provides an opportunity for Aboriginal people to diversify into other product sectors. There are many pathways that can lead Aboriginal people into the tourism industry, including paid employment or as owners of business enterprises. However, for the majority of Aboriginal people, engagement with the tourism industry means more than earning an economic livelihood. Often social and cultural issues are key drivers for tourism development. Sustainable tourism enterprises can mean:
- Maintenance of cultural and social values
- Jobs for youth
- Pride in showing the rest of the world a living culture.
Making a Difference: Aboriginal Tourism Strategy for Western Australia, 2011-2015
The Making a Difference: Aboriginal Tourism Strategy for Western Australia, 2011-2015 has been released by the Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister, Dr Kim Hames MLA and the Chairperson of the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC), Mr Neville Poelina.
The strategy will play a key role in providing opportunities for the continued development of Aboriginal tourism and position it as an iconic experience in Western Australia.
The strategy is a significant initiative and provides a very suitable vehicle to enable Indigenous tourism, government and the industry to come together, to make a difference and to achieve results well beyond what each might individually attain.
Tourism Western Australia facilitated the development of the strategy, which involved extensive consultation with Aboriginal and mainstream tourism operators, government and non government organisations and other industry groups.
A steering committee, comprising of personnel from WAITOC, Tourism Western Australia, the Small Business Development Corporation and the Department of Indigenous Affairs will be responsible for developing an implementation plan and overseeing the achievement of the actions identified in the strategy.
Implementation of the Making a Difference: Aboriginal Tourism Strategy for Western Australia, 2011-2015 will deliver significant tourism and other social and economic benefits to Aboriginal people and to Western Australia.
Download the strategy:
Making a Difference: Aboriginal Tourism Strategy for Western Australia 2011-2015 (1.2MB)
For more information, please email the the ATSWA Steering Committee at waitoc@westernaustralia.com.