Intrepid Travel has increased the First Nations tourism experiences included on its Australian trips by over 300 per cent in two years with more than 100 Indigenous offerings to be available on worldwide trips in 2023.
Intrepid Travel’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) reported that the B Corp-certified travel operator increased its First Nations experiences from 12 in 2019 to 50 experiences from 41 suppliers by June 2022.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offerings introduced on Intrepid’s Australian itineraries have connected 2,219 travellers to First Nations culture also creating growth opportunities for Indigenous tourism operators.
For the first time, Intrepid’s customers have also experienced multi-day stays in Indigenous communities, allowing for deeper engagement with First Nations cultures, histories and languages.
This includes the South Australia Outback Adventure itinerary at Iga Warta on Adnyamathanha land and the Eyre Peninsula Adventure tour with stays at the Scotdesco Aboriginal Community in Bookabie.
Approaching reconciliation as a journey
The most-recent Intrepid Travel Index showed First Nations tourism is on the rise with more than one-third of Aussies (32%) interested in a First Nations experience and 14 per cent researching the First Nations land of their destination.
Intrepid ANZ Managing Director Brett Mitchell said: “As an Australian-founded business, our reconciliation journey continues to be one of the most important experiences in our company’s history – we’re learning every day as we deepen our engagement with First Nations Australians.”
“Our customers have told us that experiencing Aboriginal and Torres Strait cultures on Country is changing the way they see the world.
“And, we’re learning so much as a business through working with more First Nations suppliers. We know we have a long way to go and we’re committed to making that positive change – here and all around the world,” Mr Mitchell said.
Investing in Indigenous experiences
Intrepid has taken other steps to support stronger relationships with First Nations people, including dual naming for Australian capital cities on its website and cultural competency training for its tour leaders.
The company’s experience in Australia has influenced its global approach. In 2023, the company will feature more than 100 First Nations experiences in its worldwide trip offering, including in New Zealand, Costa Rica and Mexico.
Intrepid’s reconciliation working group includes two First Nations consultants, Bart Pigram, a Yawaru man and Narlijia Experiences owner-operator, and Patricia Adjei, a Wuthathi, Mabuiag Islander and Ghanaian woman and Australian Council for the Arts’ First Nations Arts & Culture Director.
Intrepid Travel completed 76 per cent of the 90 actions in its Innovate RAP. It continues to work on completing a further 13 per cent while developing its next RAP in consultation with Reconciliation Australia.
For more info, head to intrepidtravel.com/au
