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Tourism Action plan launched

11 May 2023

Tropical North Queensland’s First Nations Tourism Action Plan has officially launched in Cairns and outlines a range of measures designed to embrace the full potential of Indigenous tourism in the region.

The plan aims to double both the number of Indigenous experiences and the number of Indigenous people employed in the Tropical North Queensland tourism industry in the region by 2032, with all tourism entities formally acknowledging Country.

The number of visitors having an Indigenous experience is targeted to grow from 12 per cent to 30 per cent by 2032, with the number of visitors participating in regenerative tourism supporting Country and culture doubling.

Tropical North Queensland Indigenous Experiences Cluster Group Chair Dale Mundraby co-chaired the plan’s steering committee alongside Juan Walker with 12 months of consultation undertaken throughout the region.

Mr Mundraby said the action plan was a roadmap that would make a significant impact on First Nations tourism by embracing its potential and connecting visitors in a respectful way to Country, culture and the people at the heart of it.

Co-chair Juan Walker said the fundamental principle that all tourism occurs on Country was at the heart of the plan.

“Our tourism sector must commit to assisting local communities to design and deliver appropriate tourism experiences that deliver sustainable benefits to our communities and ensure culture and Country for future generations,” he said.

“In return we will work with the sector to educate, collaborate and deliver awe-inspiring destination experiences that will position Tropical North Queensland as a global leader in tourism.

“I encourage our First Nations people to embrace the opportunities, take initiative and utilise the plan to achieve their goals.”

Tropical North Queensland is known for its diverse line up of holidaymaker attractions and visitors are increasingly seeking First Nations cultural experiences.

First Nations Tourism Action Plan aligns with the industry-led Towards Tourism 2032 roadmap which is all about harnessing Queensland’s iconic natural and cultural assets to transform Queensland’s visitor economy and grow good tourism jobs.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Officer Mark Olsen said the growing interest in authentic cultural experiences across the world was demonstrated at the Australian Tourism Exchange last week where the international travel trade were eager to learn about new Indigenous product.

“The Tropical North Queensland First Nations Tourism Action Plan is the voice of our region’s First Nations people to ensure that First Nations tourism grows in a respectful way,” he said.

The TNQ First Nations Tourism Plan is funded by the Queensland Government through the Year of Indigenous Tourism program, with support from Tourism Tropical North Queensland.

Read the Tropical North Queensland First Nations Tourism Action Plan 2023-2025.