Australia trailing the tourism field

Action plan for Australia Indigenous tourism called for

“It is widely acknowledged that Australia is lagging in the indigenous tourism sector, with many international visitors going home disappointed at not having had an authentic experience with Aboriginal culture,” said Mr Tony Charters, convening the Global Eco Asia Pacific conference in Noosa this month.

This product deficit will be a key agenda item for the conference, including a one-day workshop dedicated to fostering this sector of the industry.

“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,” said Mr Charters.

“This is an exciting time for ecotourism. Australia led the pack when the ecotourism concept first emerged in the 1980’s.  It is now the dominant trend in world tourism and looks set to flourish for the next decade and beyond,” 

“For people living in jam-packed urban cities, working and living at a frantic pace, this is a salve for their soul; it is an opportunity to connect with nature and recalibrate their lives; it can be a very powerful life experience, and this is the overwhelming trend in global tourism; it is what holiday makers are looking for.”

Opportunity beckons the Australian tourism industry as world-leading ecotourism proponents and operators gather in Noosa from 24 – 28 October for the annual Global Eco Asia Pacific Tourism conference staged by Ecotourism Australia.

This prestigious event has attracted some of the leading lights in tourism, including Gap Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip and Jena Gardener of JG Black Books of Travel fame.
Dr David Bellamy, television presenter, ecologist and biologist from the UK will address the conference, as well as work with local school children from the Sunshine Coast.

Tony Charters is an ecotourism veteran having been at the forefront of the industry since its inception, and whilst Australia has enjoyed early success, Mr Charters is calling on government and industry to seize the opportunity to drive the industry.

He said “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,”

Associate Professor Eve Mumewa Doreen is a local elder from the Gubbi Gubbi (maternal) and Jiman (paternal) people, currently writing a history of the Gubbi Gubbi people, and she will address the conference along with successful indigenous tourism operators from around the country.

The full day workshop dedicated to indigenous tourism will be held on Thursday 28 October at GlobalEco.

www.globaleco.com.au/
 

Valere Tjolle

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Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite: EXTRA SPECIAL OFFER at: www.travelmole.com/stories/1144671.php