Australian Indigenous tourism lagging

Visitors to Australia are leaving the country disappointed to not have had an authentic experience of Indigenous culture, according to the convenor of the upcoming Global Eco Asia Pacific conference.

The issue will be a key agenda item at the annual conference set to be held in Noosa from 24 to 28 October, and will include a one-day workshop dedicated to fostering Indigenous tourism. “It is widely acknowledged that Australia is lagging in the Indigenous tourism sector,” Global Eco Asia Pacific convenor Tony Charters said.

“People visiting Australia want to see our landscape through the lens of indigenous Australians. “They want to hear the stories and understand the environment as interpreted by the original inhabitants of this continent.”

According to Mr Charters, Indigenous culture and ecotourism work synonymously, not only filling a tourist demand but potentially “redressing the social disadvantage many Indigenous communities face”.
 “The traditions and culture of Indigenous Australians are a huge draw card for holiday-makers and if we can successfully build tourism products with these communities it will provide valuable opportunities for their economic improvement as well as keeping their stories, culture and traditions alive,” Mr Charters said.
 
“It also has potential for building bridges between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and forging better understanding and relationships between the two.” Mr Charters is calling on the government and tourism industry to continue to push Australia’s  ecotourism forward.
 
“At present we are being outdone by our competitors, and with a swag of new entrants such as Korea, Cambodia, Peru and Chile due to hit the market it is critical Australia looks to reinvigorate.” “Australia has an excellent reputation with a world-class accreditation system that is the envy of the tourism industry around the globe, but we must continue to be innovative and in particular, we must vigorously pursue opportunities to work with indigenous Australians,” Mr Charters said.

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