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Community & Business

20 October, 2023

First Nations tourism flourishing in TNQ

AUSTRALIAN holiday travellers experiencing Indigenous tourism in Tropical North Queensland are spending almost three times more than they did before the pandemic and staying longer in the destination.


Talaroo: Join the yarning circle around the campfire at Talaroo Hot Springs as part of the hospitality of the Ewamian people on the Savannah Way who lead guests on a guided tour before they soak in the hot springs. The campground and caravan park has glamping tents, more than 30 landscaped sites, a modern camp kitchen, amenities block, reception, gift shop and café.
Talaroo: Join the yarning circle around the campfire at Talaroo Hot Springs as part of the hospitality of the Ewamian people on the Savannah Way who lead guests on a guided tour before they soak in the hot springs. The campground and caravan park has glamping tents, more than 30 landscaped sites, a modern camp kitchen, amenities block, reception, gift shop and café.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) Chief Executive Officer Mark Olsen said a deep dive into the National Visitor Survey for 2022-23 showed $315 million was spent by holidaying Australians who participated in an Indigenous experience, accounting for 12.5 per cent of the region’s $2.5 billion domestic holiday expenditure.

 “While just 4.5 per cent of holiday makers participated in an Indigenous experience, this figure increases to 6.3 per cent of holiday nights suggesting that the people enjoying Indigenous experiences are staying longer and spending more in the region,” he said.

“Tropical North Queensland has become the number one regional area for participation in Indigenous experiences by Australian travellers, with only the cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth where visitor numbers are greater outstripping our destination’s participation rate.”

Tropical North Queensland Indigenous Experiences Cluster Group Chair Dale Mundraby said there had been solid progress in elevating the profile and quantity of First Nations product for visitors since the Tropical North Queensland First Nations Tourism Plan was launched in May by Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe.

The Minister was attending the TNQ Indigenous Experiences Cluster Group meeting recently to hear about the progress of the action plan.

Mr Mundraby said nine of the 2032 targets had progressed with a record number of 38 operators participating in the region’s Deeper into Dreaming brochure promoting First Nations cultural experiences.

“There are 32 Tropical North Queensland products in the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse which feeds their information through to key websites including Tourism Australia and Tourism and Events Queensland’s destination websites,” he said.

“This exceeds the target of 30 set for 2032 and the fact that 12 were added over the past year speaks volumes of the work by the region’s Indigenous tourism operators to connect visitors to the country and culture of First Nations people.

“There are now nine operators working with inbound wholesalers to market and sell their product and 12 experiences that can be booked online which will help grow the number of international visitors participating as they return to our region.”

Jarramali Rock Art Tours, Cooktown: Tour wilderness, touched by age old wisdom in the company of a Traditional Owner and likeable larrikin, Johnny Murison. Homestay the 20,000-year-old way at an Outback Bush Camp then take a guided tour through the Magnificent Gallery at one of the Quinkan Rock Art sites. PHOTOS: TTNQ.
Jarramali Rock Art Tours, Cooktown: Tour wilderness, touched by age old wisdom in the company of a Traditional Owner and likeable larrikin, Johnny Murison. Homestay the 20,000-year-old way at an Outback Bush Camp then take a guided tour through the Magnificent Gallery at one of the Quinkan Rock Art sites. PHOTOS: TTNQ.
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