Applications open for indigenous tourism fund
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Applications open for indigenous tourism fund
The Queensland Government has opened applications for its $7 million Growing Indigenous Tourism in Queensland Fund.
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Queensland Tourism Industry CouncilApplications are now open for the Growing Indigenous Tourism Fund.
Applications are now open for Queensland Government's $7 million Growing Indigenous Tourism Fund following an official launch last week.
Part of the state's Year of Indigenous Tourism, the fund is designed to support new indigenous tourism attractions, regional ecotourism experiences and indigenous-owned tourism businesses to create jobs.
Speaking at last week's official openingm Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said the initiative was about tapping into that demand to create jobs for indigenous Queenslanders in the tourism industry.
“More tourists than ever before want to experience indigenous culture when they come to Australia,” she said.
“Queensland is Australia’s capital for indigenous tourism.
"These grants will help us build on that – providing support for indigenous businesses to grow and develop new attractions that will make us the envy of other states.”
The fund offers two types of grants that were available to Indigenous owned tourism businesses, Aboriginal Corporations, Prescribed Body Corporates and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Councils:
- Up to $25 000 to develop a concept for a new Indigenous tourism product or experience (could include developing a feasibility study for an Aboriginal cultural interpretation centre or a concept plan for a heritage-based cycling experience on country)
- Up to $1 million for projects that improve or develop key tourism infrastructure and facilities or provide a unique tourism experience (like guided bush walks on country, ancient rock art sites)
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones (second from right). Source: Kate Jones Facebook
Ms Jones said supporting indigenous Queenslanders to bring forward new tourism experiences in regional areas was a natural progression and would provide great opportunities for regional communities
“We’ve seen some great funding applications from indigenous tourism businesses for our other infrastructure programs which have seen the State Government support projects like Tallaroo Hot Springs, Aboriginal cultural and ecotourism near Aramac, and the Desert Dreaming Centre in Barcaldineed
“I know there are many other indigenous businesses keen to grow and develop more experiences for tourists.”
The 2020 Year of Indigenous Tourism in Queensland follows on from the Year of Outback Tourism in 2019.
Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said the year ahead was the "perfect stage" to focus on the tourism opportunities that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures offered.
“We will be more successful as a destination and as a community with more Indigenous tourism businesses, more Indigenous entrepreneurs and more Indigenous employees," he said
“QTIC is a proud partner with Indigenous stakeholder, the tourism industry and the Queensland Government in making this initiative a long lasting success for our state”.
Applications for the fund closes on 21 April 2020.
Click here for more information about the initiative.
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