The National Indigenous Australians Agency has committed $3 million co-matched funding with the Queensland Government for a total of $6 million to be spent on Strategic Indigenous Tourism Projects.
Indigenous tourism is a growing and significant contribution to Queensland’s economy, creating opportunities for Indigenous Queenslanders; and providing an Australian and international visitor with enriching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and country.
Queensland is home to one of the largest Indigenous populations in Australia and is in the unique position of being able to showcase both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Queensland’s Indigenous tourism sector contributes to our State’s growing tourism industry through the supply of high-quality experiences that are essential to attracting visitors and creating employment in our regions.
High quality, unique First Nations tourism offerings are essential to attracting visitors to Queensland so we can grow our tourism industry and create more jobs in our regions.
Over the last four years, Queensland’s Indigenous tourism sector has grown, sectoral needs are clearer, and the impact of COVID has been vast and all reaching. A range of initiatives were delivered under the Queensland Government’s $10 million Year of Indigenous Tourism in 2020–2021 and the Australian Government’s $40 million Indigenous Tourism Program. The Year of Indigenous Tourism was extended into 2022–2023.
The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games places Queensland in the ideal position to become Australia’s leading Indigenous tourism destination. With strong leadership and support Queensland’s Indigenous tourism experiences will promote the diversity of our state’s regions cultural environments and beauty.
The Strategic Indigenous Tourism Projects Fund comprises of categories delivered by Our Country Advisory Service, specific organisations and others targeted via a competitive application process. Key categories include mentoring programs, event attendance, workshops, research, plan development and implementation.
Successful applicants
| Name | Project title | Project description |
|---|---|---|
| Visit Sunshine Coast Limited | Sunshine Coast Regional First Nations Tourism Action Plan | Develop a regional First Nations tourism action plan to support Queensland tourism growth and advancement of First Nations tourism operators on the Sunshine Coast. |
| Visit Sunshine Coast Limited | Sunshine Coast First Nations Business Famils Program | Conduct a First Nations business familiarisation program to support the advancement of existing and emerging First Nations tourism operators and enhance the capacity and visibility of Indigenous tourism on the Sunshine Coast. |
| Outback Queensland Tourism Association Inc | Outback Queensland First Nations Tourism Action Plan | Create a regional First Nations tourism action plan to identify and pursue tourism aspirations, understand visitor engagement preferences, and map out actions and capacity-building needs for multiple First Nations communities in Outback Queensland. |
| Queensland Country Tourism Ltd | Queensland Country Regional First Nations Tourism Action Plan | Develop a First Nations Tourism Action Plan that places First Nations operators, stories, and experiences at the centre of Queensland Country’s tourism future. The plan will explore practical ways to strengthen visibility, support operator development, and ensure cultural perspectives are reflected in regional tourism planning. |
| Queensland Country Tourism Ltd | Queensland Country First Nations Tourism Famils | Deliver two famils with experienced operators and industry stakeholders to help refine and strengthen First Nations tourism offerings in Queensland Country. |
| Independent Indigenous Tourism Operators of Queensland Ltd (IITOQ) | Mentoring Program | Establish a mentoring project in Fraser Coast and Capricorn Regions and develop a website with tools for First Nations startup tourism operators. |
| Independent Indigenous Tourism Operators of Queensland Ltd (IITOQ) | Indigenous Tourism Development Roadmap | Represent IITOQ on the Queensland Indigenous Tourism Government Industry Reference Group. |
| Independent Indigenous Tourism Operators of Queensland Ltd (IITOQ) | First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership engagement | Engage with the National Advisory Committee for First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership providing expert and trusted cultural advice. |
| Independent Indigenous Tourism Operators of Queensland Ltd (IITOQ) | First Nations Visitor Economy - Regional industry events | Develop a roadshow in partnership with the Queensland First Nations Tourism Council (QFNTC) to deliver First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership regional industry events feeding into the Destination Indigenous Queensland forum (Destination IQ). |
| Independent Indigenous Tourism Operators of Queensland Ltd (IITOQ) | Regional First Nations Tourism Action Plan | Work with Regional Tourism Organisations to deliver First Nations Actions Plans in Fraser Coast and Capricorn Regions. |
| Independent Indigenous Tourism Operators of Queensland Ltd (IITOQ) | Native Goods Distribution Project | Develop and deliver a native food and botanical festival to promote Indigenous food and botanical tourism in Queensland. |
| Townsville Enterprise Limited | Regional First Nations Tourism Action Plan | Develop a regional First Nations tourism action plan to support Queensland tourism growth and advancement of First Nations tourism operators for Townsville North Queensland. |
| Townsville Enterprise Limited | Townsville North Queensland Indigenous Tourism Famils | Facilitate an Indigenous Tourism Exchange, with a famil for 4–6 local aspiring Indigenous tourism businesses within Townsville to experience an established Indigenous tourism operation in North Queensland. |
| Queensland First Nations Tourism Council (QFTNC) | Sponsorship and Bursaries – World Indigenous Tourism Summit (WITS) | Support First Nations Tourism operators from across Queensland to attend and participate in the World Indigenous Tourism Summit. |
| Queensland First Nations Tourism Council (QFTNC) | Mentoring Programs | Build the capacity of First Nations businesses facilitated through existing and new mentoring programs statewide. |
| Queensland First Nations Tourism Council (QFTNC) | Sponsorship and Bursaries – Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference (AITC) | Support First Nations Tourism operators from across Queensland to attend and participate in the Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference. |
| Queensland First Nations Tourism Council (QFTNC) | Sponsorship and Bursaries – Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) | Support First Nations Tourism operators from across Queensland to attend and participate in the Australia Tourism Exchange. |
| Queensland First Nations Tourism Council (QFTNC) | Indigenous Tourism Development Roadmap | Support the implementation and monitoring of the Indigenous Tourism Development Roadmap and the completion of the First Nations Tourism Plan 2020–2025 statewide. |
| Queensland First Nations Tourism Council (QFTNC) | Regional First Nations Tourism Action Plans | Develop regional First Nations tourism action plans to empower local development and ownership of tourism growth and advancement across Queensland. |
| Queensland First Nations Tourism Council (QFTNC) | First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership – engagement | Engage with the National Advisory Committee for First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership providing expert and trusted cultural advice. |
| Queensland First Nations Tourism Council (QFTNC) | First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership – Events | Develop a roadshow in partnership with the Independent Indigenous Tourism Operators of Queensland Ltd (IITOQ) to deliver First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership regional industry events feeding into the Destination Indigenous Queensland forum (Destination IQ). |
| Queensland Tourism Industry Council Ltd (QTIC) | First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership: Delivery of Regional Destination IQ | Deliver two First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership regional events, feeding into the Destination Indigenous Queensland forum (Destination IQ), during NAIDOC week and at Mount Isa |
| Queensland Tourism Industry Council Ltd (QTIC) | Destination IQ Development and Delivery: Design and deliver Destination IQ Forum | Design and deliver the Destination Indigenous Queensland forum (Destination IQ) to promote networking between government, industry and operators and showcase First Nations tourism businesses and opportunities across Queensland. |
| Queensland Tourism Industry Council Ltd (QTIC) | First Nations Tourism Plan: Finalise implementation of the First Nations Tourism Plan 2020–2025 | Finalise implementation of the First Nations Tourism Plan 2020– 2025 by delivering extensive statewide consultation workshops with First Nations people and tourism operators on the vision and priorities of the First Nations tourism sector. |
| Queensland Tourism Industry Council Ltd (QTIC) | First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership - Engagement: Engage with National Advisory Committee | Engage with the National Advisory Committee for First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership providing expert and trusted cultural advice. |
| Queensland Tourism Industry Council Ltd (QTIC) | Destination IQ Development and Delivery - Attendance | Support a minimum of 10 Queensland First Nations tourism businesses to attend the Destination Indigenous Queensland forum (Destination IQ) and DestinationQ forms to foster future growth and development of Indigenous tourism in Queensland. |
| Queensland Tourism Industry Council Ltd (QTIC) | Attendance at Queensland and Australian Tourism Awards | Support a minimum of 10 Queensland First Nations tourism businesses to attend the Queensland and Australian Tourism Awards. |
| Queensland Tourism Industry Council Ltd (QTIC) | Best Practice Guide Toolkit – First Nations Tourism in Parks | Develop a Best Practice guide and toolkit for working with First Nations tourism in Queensland, including delivery of training, engagement and workshops across Queensland. |
| Bundaberg Region Ltd | Southern Great Barrier Reef First Nations Tourism Action Plan | Develop a regional First Nations tourism action plan in partnership with Gladstone Area Promotions and Development Ltd to support tourism growth and advancement of First Nations tourism operators in the Bundaberg and Gladstone region. |
| Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) | TNQ Indigenous Experiences Famil Program | Facilitate opportunity for up to 10 emerging First Nations tourism operators to experience products either within Tropical North Queensland or in other regions of Queensland. |
| Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) | TNQ Indigenous Experiences Marketing Plan | Develop a targeted and collaborative marketing plan for local Indigenous tourism operators to promote authentic Indigenous experiences in the local, national and international market. |
| Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Best of Queensland Experiences Ready Program | Deliver the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Best of Queensland Experience (BOQE) Ready Program, including mentoring support for Indigenous tourism businesses to increase the number of operators achieving BOQE. |
| Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Events Fund | Support established and existing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island cultural events through an Events fund to enhance marketing and content initiatives to establish Queensland as the leading destination for cultural events in Australia. |
| Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism and Events Research | Conduct research and analysis to demonstrate the economic and social impacts of tourism on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Queensland. |
| Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Trade Support | Deliver Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Trade support to emerging, existing and established trade Indigenous tourism business across Queensland, to increase their international trade ready capacity and knowledge and increase the number of experiences exhibiting at ATE25 in Brisbane. |
| Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Trade and Resource Management Project | Support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism operators to increase performance in trade by providing marketing and collateral support to promote their businesses. |
| Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) | Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Events Strategy | Develop a best practice framework to guide the growth and sustainability of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural events in Queensland. By identifying common success factors across key events, the framework will inform future investment and capability-building. |
| Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) | TEQ Indigenous Language Project | Share the cultural stories of Queensland’s most iconic natural destinations through the voices of Traditional Owners. By using authorised language and storytelling, the project will ensure respectful and authentic representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures across TEQ’s digital platforms. |
| Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) | Best Practice Guide for Cultural Inclusion at Events | Deliver a co-designed video series to support Queensland’s events industry in respectfully engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Focused on building cultural capability, the series aims to promote inclusion, collaboration and integrity in the planning and delivery of events across the state. |
| Our Country Advisory Service (OCAS) | Discovery and Business Essentials Workshops | Deliver a series of Discovery, Business Demand, and Marketing Essentials workshops in multiple locations across Queensland for First Nations tourism businesses and those wishing to establish a cultural tourism product or experience. |
| Our Country Advisory Service (OCAS) | Emerging Field School Program | The Emerging Field School Program empowers Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers across Queensland with specialised tour guide training to deliver culturally rich, sustainable tourism experiences that celebrate First Nations heritage and support local economies. |
