❓ The Minister for Tourism outlines the McGowan government's investment in Aboriginal tourism through the Jina plan, a cross-government initiative backed by a $20 million fund, aiming to position WA as Australia's premier Aboriginal tourism destination and support Aboriginal businesses.
AnsweredQoN 196Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ABORIGINAL TOURISM
196. Ms S.E. WINTON to the Minister for Tourism:
I
refer to the McGowan Labor government's commitment to promoting our
Aboriginal tourism industry and creating more opportunities for
authentic Aboriginal cultural tourism experiences.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on how this government's investment is
helping to make WA the premier destination for authentic Aboriginal cultural
experiences?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house what this investment will mean for jobs and
businesses in the Aboriginal tourism sector?
196. Ms S.E. WINTON to the Minister for Tourism:
I
refer to the McGowan Labor government's commitment to promoting our
Aboriginal tourism industry and creating more opportunities for
authentic Aboriginal cultural tourism experiences.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on how this government's investment is
helping to make WA the premier destination for authentic Aboriginal cultural
experiences?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house what this investment will mean for jobs and
businesses in the Aboriginal tourism sector?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
member for the question; it is an important one.
(1)–(2) We
know that Aboriginal culture is fundamental to our history, uniqueness, sense
of identity and Western Australia's very being. The McGowan government
values, celebrates and promotes Aboriginal people
and their culture, language, relationship to country, and knowledge, which
represent a unique feature of our tourism product. We are fortunate to
have many passionate Aboriginal tourism operators who share their knowledge and history with residents,
whether that be through walking tours, camping with custodians or a plethora of Aboriginal tourism products. We
know that 81 per cent of visitors to Western Australia are looking for
an Indigenous experience, but, sadly, only 17 per cent of visitors actually
benefit from that experience. That is why the McGowan government has launched
its Jina: Western Australian Aboriginal tourism action plan 2021–2025 .
It is an action plan backed by a $20 million Aboriginal tourism fund election
commitment. I want to acknowledge the members for Warnbro and Mandurah as the
previous Ministers for Tourism, who
conceived, developed and implemented this plan. I am very excited to be a part of this opportunity to put this plan into action.
The
Jina plan is a cross-government initiative involving nine government agencies,
with Tourism WA as the lead agency, that will bring to life our wonderful
Indigenous tourism product. It is about positioning WA as Australia's
premier Aboriginal tourism destination. It is about making sure that we are
building the capacity for Aboriginal people to enter the tourism industry and
facilitating an authentic Aboriginal cultural experience for people who come to this great state to sample
our tourism product. The new funding agreement that has been signed with the Western Australian Indigenous
Tourism Operators Council will support WAITOC's implementation of the
plan. It is a four-year funding contract worth $4.32 million and it represents
a record partnership between the state government and WAITOC. This funding is
on top of WA Tourism's base funding for WAITOC of $3.6 million,
bringing the total funding commitment over the next four years to just about $8
million. This is a great opportunity because it means that WAITOC can deliver
key components of the Jina plan,
which includes an Aboriginal tourism academy that will provide business
development, support and capacity to
Aboriginal tourism businesses. It also involves an administration hub housed
within WAITOC, which will provide Aboriginal tourism operators with an
opportunity to develop booking systems and ways to reach out by utilising
digital platforms to make sure that their businesses have an opportunity to
reach their audience.
Of course, it is about the
development and installation of new Aboriginal art, welcomes at visitor centres
and high-traffic centres located around the state. Many members will know that
as they travel around the world, they see
the iconography of First Nations people, whether in visitor centres, tourism
places or airports . Very sadly, when
we go to somewhere like Perth Airport, we see a fairly sterile environment
greeting people as they come off planes. We want to make sure that they
know that when they come to Perth Airport, they are on Noongar country as a gateway
to all the Aboriginal nations that live across this great state.
WAITOC
will increase its staff numbers to help implement the actions of the Jina plan,
including two new staff members located in Broome, which is, of course,
a hub for Indigenous tourism enterprises.
The
new funding agreement will build capacity to develop and promote the vision as
we welcome international tourists back to Western Australia. It is a refresh
of the way we approach tourism. I am very much looking forward to seeing it
come to life. Member for Wanneroo, it is great question. It is an opportunity
to really make sure that Indigenous tourism is the beating heart of WA's
tourism strategy, the platform upon which we base all our tourism products. I am
very much looking forward to implementing the great work of the previous two tourism
ministers to implement the Jina plan.
member for the question; it is an important one.
(1)–(2) We
know that Aboriginal culture is fundamental to our history, uniqueness, sense
of identity and Western Australia's very being. The McGowan government
values, celebrates and promotes Aboriginal people
and their culture, language, relationship to country, and knowledge, which
represent a unique feature of our tourism product. We are fortunate to
have many passionate Aboriginal tourism operators who share their knowledge and history with residents,
whether that be through walking tours, camping with custodians or a plethora of Aboriginal tourism products. We
know that 81 per cent of visitors to Western Australia are looking for
an Indigenous experience, but, sadly, only 17 per cent of visitors actually
benefit from that experience. That is why the McGowan government has launched
its Jina: Western Australian Aboriginal tourism action plan 2021–2025 .
It is an action plan backed by a $20 million Aboriginal tourism fund election
commitment. I want to acknowledge the members for Warnbro and Mandurah as the
previous Ministers for Tourism, who
conceived, developed and implemented this plan. I am very excited to be a part of this opportunity to put this plan into action.
The
Jina plan is a cross-government initiative involving nine government agencies,
with Tourism WA as the lead agency, that will bring to life our wonderful
Indigenous tourism product. It is about positioning WA as Australia's
premier Aboriginal tourism destination. It is about making sure that we are
building the capacity for Aboriginal people to enter the tourism industry and
facilitating an authentic Aboriginal cultural experience for people who come to this great state to sample
our tourism product. The new funding agreement that has been signed with the Western Australian Indigenous
Tourism Operators Council will support WAITOC's implementation of the
plan. It is a four-year funding contract worth $4.32 million and it represents
a record partnership between the state government and WAITOC. This funding is
on top of WA Tourism's base funding for WAITOC of $3.6 million,
bringing the total funding commitment over the next four years to just about $8
million. This is a great opportunity because it means that WAITOC can deliver
key components of the Jina plan,
which includes an Aboriginal tourism academy that will provide business
development, support and capacity to
Aboriginal tourism businesses. It also involves an administration hub housed
within WAITOC, which will provide Aboriginal tourism operators with an
opportunity to develop booking systems and ways to reach out by utilising
digital platforms to make sure that their businesses have an opportunity to
reach their audience.
Of course, it is about the
development and installation of new Aboriginal art, welcomes at visitor centres
and high-traffic centres located around the state. Many members will know that
as they travel around the world, they see
the iconography of First Nations people, whether in visitor centres, tourism
places or airports . Very sadly, when
we go to somewhere like Perth Airport, we see a fairly sterile environment
greeting people as they come off planes. We want to make sure that they
know that when they come to Perth Airport, they are on Noongar country as a gateway
to all the Aboriginal nations that live across this great state.
WAITOC
will increase its staff numbers to help implement the actions of the Jina plan,
including two new staff members located in Broome, which is, of course,
a hub for Indigenous tourism enterprises.
The
new funding agreement will build capacity to develop and promote the vision as
we welcome international tourists back to Western Australia. It is a refresh
of the way we approach tourism. I am very much looking forward to seeing it
come to life. Member for Wanneroo, it is great question. It is an opportunity
to really make sure that Indigenous tourism is the beating heart of WA's
tourism strategy, the platform upon which we base all our tourism products. I am
very much looking forward to implementing the great work of the previous two tourism
ministers to implement the Jina plan.
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