Australia’s international recovery is fuelling a welcome boost in TNQ First Nations tourism and experiences with Tropical North Queensland operators witnessing a surge in sales and record growth due to overseas visitors.
Queensland has the highest number of Indigenous-owned and -led products on country in Australia with TNQ First Nations tourism operators reporting increased business as international visitation returns.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) CEO Mark Olsen said: “Since the borders reopened, international visitor spend in Tropical North Queensland has rebounded to nearly $1.1 billion, on par with 2019 expenditure, powered by the strong partnership of the tourism industry, TTNQ and Cairns Airport.”
TNQ Indigenous Experiences Cluster Group Co-Chair Juan Walker said his business, Walkabout Cultural Adventures, which operates tours on Kuku Yalanji Country, had improved sales by 13 per cent.
“We are already getting bookings for September and October next year, like we were achieving before Covid, and international business is now more than 70 per cent of our market,” he said.
TNQ Indigenous Experiences Cluster Group Co-Chair Dale Mundraby, Operations Manager of Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours, which showcases Mandingalbay Yidinji Country across Trinity Inlet from Cairns, said business had peaked in September with their revamped product.
“Since relaunching our business in 2022, we have jumped from a handful of guests to 520 in September across our Hands on Country Eco Tour and the new Deadly After Dark Sunset Cruise, including dinner at Ochre,” he said.
Olsen said seven Indigenous products had been mentored over the past year and TNQ now had 41 trade-ready experiences in the Deeper into Dreaming brochure.
“The Indigenous Experiences cluster has been invaluable in helping to grow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism and was behind the TNQ First Nations Tourism Action Plan, which launched in May 2023, recognising that all tourism is on country,” he said.
“TTNQ’s Reconciliation Action Plan was officially accredited by Reconciliation Australia during Indigenous Business Month, marking another milestone in the organisation’s work to elevate First Nations tourism.
“The Indigenous experience in tourism is a form of reconciliation that has a huge positive impact in helping to close the gap. It allows visitors to connect in a respectful way to country, culture and the people at the heart of it,” he said.
For more info, visit tourism.tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au
