Tourism to foster indigenous involvement

From the EC3 Global Newsletter... http://bit.ly/bN6u8X

NEW INITIATIVE TO FOSTER INDIGENOUS INVOLVEMENT IN KIMBERLEY TOURISM

WWF-Australia is engaged in a new project aimed at increasing the number of Traditional Owners working in and benefitting from the booming multi-million dollar tourism industry in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

The project, a joint initiative of WWF-Australia, the Kimberley Land Council (KLC) and The Leading Travel Companies Conservation Foundation (TLTC), was recently announced and hopes to engage Traditional Owners, tourism operators and industry groups to manage coastal tourism in the Kimberley in a more sustainable and culturally sensitive manner.

It also aims to promote sustainable tourism among existing operators through the development of best practice protocols regarding environmental and cultural tourism.

“With the Kimberley rapidly becoming a global tourism hot-spot, it is critical to put in place effective measures to safeguard the region,” said WWF’s Program Leader – West Paul Gamblin.

“This project represents an ongoing commitment by WWF to work with the Indigenous people of the Kimberley region towards sustainable economic development."

“Culturally, environmentally and economically the Kimberley is of outstanding national and international significance.”

The partnership will convene a steering group with Traditional Owners in the region, working with tourism operators to ensure cultural and natural heritage is identified, preserved and promoted.

The steering group will also encourage greater education and training for traditional land owners in tourism management. Situated in the remote north-western corner of Australia, The Kimberley covers an area of nearly 423,000 square kilometres and has an estimated population of 38,000, making it one of the most sparsely populated areas in the world. ¹

Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries in the region with visitor numbers increasing over the last decade.

Frank Davey, Deputy Chairman of the KLC, welcomed the new partnership, which focuses on coastal tourism.

“We are very pleased to see so many good partners coming on board with the Kimberley Land Council, and working co-operatively to help us build a healthy and sustainable tourism industry,” Mr Davey said.

“Tourism in the Kimberley is a growing industry and every year we have more and more people visiting our country. A number of Traditional Owners are already operating tourism ventures in the Kimberley and many more are looking to become involved in tourism and interacting with visitors to their country."

“This project will help Traditional Owners begin a process of assisting tourists to respect our country when they visit. This education process is important to Traditional Owners and can also become part of the cultural experience for visitors.”

The Leading Travel Companies Conservation Foundation spokesperson Les Cox said the foundation was committed to ensuring both Indigenous culture and the environment were protected.

“This project will provide a foundation to work with the Traditional Owners to develop protection mechanisms for the natural and cultural heritage of the region,” Mr Cox said.

“By partnering with WWF and KLC we can work towards a future of sustainable tourism that revolves around the Traditional Owners of the Kimberley, ensuring this amazing region is preserved and its inhabitants are respected and well positioned to draw long term benefits from the tourism growth we are witnessing in the region.”

¹http://www.australiasnorthwest.com/en/Destinations/The_Kimberley/Pages/The_Kimberley.aspx
PHOTO CAPTION: Participants in the Kimberley tourism project including Bardi Jawi Rangers and senior advisors to the KLC as well as staff from WWF-Australia and TLTC during a visit to Koojaman at Cape Leveque.