Aboriginal tourism to converge on Alice Springs

Just one year after the promulgation of the Larrakia Declaration on March 30, 2012 in Darwin, proposals are now being put in place for the next major gathering of Australian indigenous tourism, this time in Alice Springs in October 2013.

In March 2012 the first Pacific Asia Indigenous Tourism Conference (PAITC) brought 191 delegates from 16 countries together on the traditional lands of the Larrakia people. The conference gathering represented indigenous communities, government agencies, the tourism industry, and supporting bodies, which collectively resolved to adopt principles to guide the development of indigenous tourism. The principles contained in the Larrakia Declaration has since been recognized and supported by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC) Chairperson Doc Reynolds said, “The Larrakia Declaration has been the most significant announcement to have come out of Australia which will impact the development of indigenous tourism globally.”

The decision taken by WAITOC to co-host the Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference (AITC) 2013 with the Northern Territory Government again represents the collective commitment that both Western Australia and the Northern Territory have in further developing indigenous tourism in Australia.

Mr. Reynolds said, “Indigenous tourism represents a key point of difference for Australia’s positioning in the international tourism market place, and this significance will continue to increase as globalization further impacts on the operation of the tourism industry.”

The AITC 2013 will be held in Alice Springs from October 9-11, 2013. This will be the 7th Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference to be held in Australia since 2004.

Mr. Reynolds said, “The AITC 2013 will be focused by the principles of the Larrakia Declaration, and the theme ‘Strong Business; Strong Culture’ also reinforces the conference focus on the empowerment of Australian indigenous people through tourism. We are expecting a strong showing by Australian indigenous tourism businesses and other agencies working with indigenous tourism at the AITC conference.”