One of the great achievements of Queensland's diversification of its tourism industry has been growth of Aboriginal tourism enterprises in regional centres of the State. Manager of Special Interest Tourism is Mr. Glen Miller.

"An increasing number of other Aboriginal communities in the State of Queensland have already moved to respond to this interest including the people of Injinoo, the traditional owners of the land at the very northern tip o mainland Australia," Mr. Miller said. "They operate Pajinka Wilderness Lodge which offers a range of experiences found nowhere else in the world. A visit to Pajinka allows guests to become familiar with a contemporary Aboriginal community where traditional and modern methods are integrated in this living culture."

Near Cairns, a special Aboriginal cultural experience is now attracting tourists in increasing numbers and winning the highest tourism awards in Australia. The Tjapukai Dance Theatre is the only permanent Aboriginal theatre in Australia where traditional skills such as fire making corroboree dances and Dreamtime legends are performed daily. Body adornment and tribal artefacts are humorously explained to the haunting tones of the didgeridoo. "Tjapukai has won a host of Queensland, national and international awards including the Pacific Area Travel Association Gold Award for Cultural Development for Pacific rim countries and the US Film and Video Award."

In the competitive world of tourism promotions and operations in Far North Queensland, Ms Hazel Douglas of Native Guide Safari Tours won the Cairns Tourism Association's Major Hospitality Award for Excellence of Service in her very first year of operation. Ms Douglas is a member of the Kuku Yalanji tribe of the spectacularly beautiful Daintree area and takes tourists on a special experience of the region explaining tribal legends and traditional culture.

Part of Mr. Miller's role within Tourism Queensland is to support and encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and individuals to develop their tourist Projects. "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism is now having the spotlight focused on current projects and the potential for the future." "However, the message from Aboriginal and Islander people is very strong and clear, and that is they will ultimately make the decision whether they wish to be involved or not, and on what terms.

The Tourism Queensland organisation supports that stance and consequently our strategies are formulated to reflect that view." Mr. Miller said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism had a two-fold role both in the economic development of communities and enterprise potential of individuals. "Equally as important is the process of reconciliation through cultural awareness and understanding." "Like any successful business, it is important that they get the basics right in the first place.

Enthusiasm is not enough, and conversely, we do not try to force communities into playing the tourism card. There must be a genuine desire to want to enter the tourism industry and from there we can assist with the development of a business plan, market research, product development and promotion." back to Queensland tour operators