QUEENSLAND JOINS INDIGENOUS TOURISM ROADSHOW

Queensland’s important Indigenous tourism industry will be on show during an International tourism roadshow this month, Tourism Minister Margaret Keech said today.

Mrs Keech said the roadshow, being coordinated by Tourism Australia and led by Indigenous Tourism Australia Chair Aden Ridgeway, is aimed at increasing international awareness of the range of Australian Indigenous tourism products.

“Three Queensland Indigenous tourism groups will join tourism representatives and operators from across Australian on the 15-day mission,” Mrs Keech said.

“The mission will visit key UK and European markets from tomorrow (February 21) to March 7, meeting with important trade and media representatives in London, Milan, Paris, Utrecht and Berlin.

“Indigenous tourism is a growing segment of the Queensland tourism market with international travellers increasingly seeking out opportunities to participate in authentic Indigenous tourism experiences.”

Mrs Keech said Queensland currently attracts 2.2 million International visitors every year, contributing more than $3.2 billion to local Queensland economies.

“Growing our share of the national Indigenous tourism market will not only enable us to improve visitor numbers and earnings but also contribute economic and jobs growth in Indigenous communities across regional Queensland,” she said.

“The three Queensland Indigenous tourism groups attending the trip include Riverlife Mirrabooka from Brisbane, a Cape York Group of operators including Aurukun Wetland Charters, Cape York Turtle Rescue and Walker Family Tours and a Torres Strait Group including the Gab Titui Cultural Centre and Poruma Island Resort.

“The Queensland contingent will also be supported by Peter Webster, Tourism Queensland’s Indigenous tourism market specialist.

“International promotional missions such as this are vital to raising the profile of our emerging markets like Indigenous tourism in key markets and providing operators with valuable insights to International holiday markets.

“The result of this trip will be an improved understanding of the potential of Queensland’s Indigenous tourism in the international marketplace.

“This in turn will provide government, industry and communities with a stronger basis to guide the ongoing development and marketing of Indigenous tourism in Queensland.”

Media contacts: Jo Gibbons 3224 2007 or David Smith 3225 1005