“Indigenous tourism accounts for around $505 million in visitor expenditure in Queensland and supports 2,500 full-time jobs. The Indigenous Tourism Fund will continue to drive the engagement, commitment, and genuine progress to make the most of First Nations tourism in Queensland".
QTIC Indigenous Program Manager Rhonda Appo commented, “Through our Indigenous Working Group we have been advocating strongly to both federal and state government to build a better path for Indigenous aspirations in tourism to be made a reality. Queensland has an enormous opportunity to tap into the skills, knowledge and culture of Indigenous Queenslanders.
“With the impacts of COVID-19 there is a real risk of setting back the Indigenous tourism sector in Queensland, so the announcement of the Indigenous Tourism Fund is welcomed news”.
The $40 million Indigenous Tourism Fund will be divided into:
- $10 to go towards a National Indigenous Tourism Mentoring
- Up to $12 million for Tourism Grants for Indigenous businesses. Applications for the grant will open on 22 February.
- Up to $17 million for States and Territories to co-invest with the Commonwealth on significant Indigenous tourism projects.
- To ensure the fund is Indigenous-led, $1 million will be provided for the establishment of a National Indigenous Tourism Advisory Group
Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP, said Indigenous tourism businesses have been hard hit by the combined impact of bushfires and COVID-19.
“The tourism sector was one of the first to be impacted by COVID-19 and will be one of the last to recover,” Minister Wyatt said.
“This fund delivers on our election commitment, and has been designed in consultation with the Indigenous tourism sector who have told us clearly what they need to recover and grow their businesses.”
For more information on the Indigenous Tourism Fund:
Indigenous Tourism Fund | National Indigenous Australians Agency (niaa.gov.au)
