AusLeisure

The Federal Government recently announced new support for Indigenous tourism offering business support and grants under the $40 million Indigenous Tourism Fund.

The funding includes up to $12 million in tourism grants to help Indigenous businesses and organisations develop new products, and purchase systems and equipment.

The fund also includes $10 million towards a mentoring program to offer businesses individualised support, and up to $17 million for states and territories to co-invest with the Commonwealth on significant Aboriginal tourism projects.

Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt said Indigenous tourism businesses have been hard hit by the combined impact of bushfires and COVID-19 and that the funding had been “designed in consultation with the Indigenous tourism sector who have told us clearly what they need to recover and grow their businesses."

To ensure the fund is Indigenous led, $1 million will be provided for the establishment of a National Indigenous Tourism Advisory Group consisting of successful Indigenous experts from a variety of fields to advise on priorities for the sector and the implementation of the fund.

The National Indigenous Tourism Advisory Group will be chaired by Professor Deen Sanders with Helen Martin as Deputy Chair.

Federal Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Dan Tehan, said the package would support Australia’s diverse tourism market adding "we want tourists to share and enjoy Australia’s rich Indigenous history, culture and traditions.

"Australia’s health and economic success at managing COVID-19 means we are well-placed to recover and grow our domestic and international tourism sector and we want Indigenous tourism to be a key part of the Australian visitor experience."

Applications for the first round of the grants close on 22^nd March 2021

For more information on the Indigenous Tourism Fund, visit www.niaa.gov.au/ITF

Image: Kimberly Wilderness Adventures Bungle Bungle National Park WA Courtesy ecotourism.org.au/

Related Articles

24th February 2021 - Queensland’s Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger program expands

6th February 2021 - Rise in insurance premiums impacts Indigenous rangers’ bushfire prevention work in Western Australia’s Kimberley

7th October 2020 - Wonnarua Indigenous Cultural Hub and museum to be established in Hunter Valley

13th August 2020 - Indigenous tourism hit hard by Coronavirus crisis

28th July 2020 - Indigenous leaders worried about future of Dreamworld Corroboree precinct

6th April 2020 - 88,000 hectares of NSW wetland returned to indigenous owners

13th February 2020 - Indigenous tourism in Cairns to receive new funding

11th November 2019 - Queensland Government announces 2020 as the Year of Indigenous Tourism

3rd October 2018 - Indigenous tourism entrepreneurs look to advance opportunities at Lorne conference

30th April 2018 - Federal Government commits $250 million to fund Indigenous rangers program until 2021

2nd April 2017 - Report highlights value of Indigenous Ranger Programs

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.