Learnings & Insights for the Future of Indigenous Tourism in Cape York & Torres Strait, Australia

High-value tourism can be an important instrument for economic growth, nature conservation and cultural recovery among Indigenous communities. However, when not properly managed, tourism can have unintended negative consequences, such as environmental and cultural impacts. This has been recognised as a concern in Cape York in far northern Australia in the past few years, as 4x4 drivers and tourist numbers increase to around 100,000 each year.

But tourism doesn't have to be this way. Community-based and joint-venture tourism has been used as a vital tool for sustainable development to alleviate poverty, stimulate economic growth, promote employment, conservation and community development, with some of the best examples of this joint-venture approach in Africa, such as Namibia and Botswana.

Since I started my work with the Torres Cape Indigenous Councils Alliance (TCICA) in 2020, with the great privilege of exploring this beautiful region and speaking with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and community members, I can see clear synergies between Cape York, the Gulf and Torres Strait and some countries where I've worked in Africa. Like countries in Africa like Namibia, the region is truly remote, has extraordinary natural environments and wildlife, ancient cultures that are rich in tradition and story-telling, and there's a growing need for sustainable economic development that is in harmony with the highly valued natural and cultural environment.

Over the course of this year I set out to better understand some of the factors affecting success and failure of Indigenous tourism ventures across Australia with a view to helping guide future Indigenous-led planning for Cape York, Gulf and Torres Strait. Other authors have found the need for local government and community support to be important factors in success in Indigenous tourism, as well as co-ordination and co-operation between stakeholders, good tourism distribution systems, planning, leadership and investment. In my new report for TCICA (full report here under Indigenous Tourism JV Highlights ) I highlight some of the most important factors affecting the success of Indigenous tourism in Australia, based on the views of a range of tourism experts and operators and analysis of several Australian case studies in Indigenous tourism, such as Cicada Lodge , Nitmiluk, NT (Jawoyn Association), Karijini Eco-Retreat , WA (Gumala Enterprises) and Banu Banu , Bremer Island, East Arnhemland, NT (founders Helen Martin and Trevor Martin in partnership with the local Yolgnu people).

I interviewed lots of amazing people for this report who have been involved in Indigenous tourism across Australia in past and present decades, whose contribution was invaluable in trying to capture some of the learnings and thoughts on needs for a promising future, including Grant Hunt A.M. , Mark Olsen , John Felan , John Murison , Rick Murray , Helen Martin , David Morgans , Charlie Carlow , Michael Collins , Lisa Ruhanen , Michelle Whitford , Clare Carroll , Craig Bradbery and Craig Davidson (just to mention a few - thank you to all who agreed to a chat!).

The factors that were mentioned by the greatest number of people as being helpful or important for Indigenous tourism to be successful were: 1) long term training for Indigenous people, 2) uniqueness of tourism offering (landscape, nature, location), 3) approvals in place (e.g. land tenure secure, Traditional Owner & council permissions), 4) existing business or tourism market present (rather than starting from scratch), 5) local driver (individual or leader of community). Other important factors that were mentioned by at least four people as being key to success were: 1) good governance/strong leadership, 2) equality of partnership between Traditional Owners and business partner (shared vision and respect), 3) reliability of employees/consistency of quality tourism product, 4) start-up funding/capital investment, 5) government support (high level), 6) accessibility of site, 7) local community driven (dream) and 8) low capital costs (avoiding over-investment).

There's a lot we can learn from the Indigenous tourism ventures that are no longer operating in Cape York and Torres Strait such as Pajinka and Poruma, and I've tried to capture these learnings in the report too as these communities think about how to move forward with tourism in the future.

What is most clear to me after a year of returning to many of the communities I first visited in 2020 and 2021 is that there is enormous potential for the right kind of tourism that is aligned to the values of the Traditional Owners in this region. Not every community wants to pursue tourism at this point in time, while some are extremely eager to explore the possibilities. It's clear that caring for Country and Culture are top of the priority list alongside ensuring financial sustainability and jobs for locals in any kind of tourism venture on Indigenous lands.

There's been some great progress in the region in the last couple of years. The Gudang-Yadhaykenu Aboriginal Corporation, the Traditional Owners at the northernmost point of Cape York (Pajinka), received a grant from the Queensland Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport to remove the old Pajinka lodge infrastructure, build walkways and ablutions, as well as build their business capacity for tourism on their Country.

John Murison 's Jarramali Rock Art Tours has gone from strength to strength, a testiment to this amazing Kuku Yalanji man's determination and sheer hard work. Jarramali now offers accommodation in bush cabins just outside Laura and Johnny's guided tours of extraordinary, 20,000 year old rock art continue to blow people's minds. The operation is planning to expand in 2024 with the addition of an up-market glamping camp in the area, and has received support from the Queensland Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport. I highly recommend a visit to Johnny's place . Other than the stunning scenery, ancient art and wildlife in this epic landscape, sitting around the campfire under the stars having a yarn with Johnny of an evening is pure joy.

One of the highlights of this year for me was visiting Badu Island in the Torres Strait a couple of months ago with the Queensland Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport's Perina Drummond and Moses Nelliman from DATSIP, hosted by Badu Island Traditional Owner, Nancy Nona. Nancy Nona's unique, stylish 'beach shack' for singles or couples, Alup has been recognised as one of the top one hundred places to visit in the world and I strongly recommend you go and see why! Think crystal clear waters, soft white sand, amazing sunsets over the sea and very special conversations by the campfire on the beach. Check it out and book a stay on Nancy's instagram site .

I was really struck by the level of interest from a small cohort of Traditional Owners in exploring high-value tourism, and also by the natural beauty of Badu island. Another Traditional Owner, Gerald Bowie also has plans to develop a low-impact tourism lodge on his Country at Lilly Beach on Badu Island and it will be really exciting to watch this space.

It's always poignant to come to the end of another round of tourism work for TCICA as this work has been very close to my heart. It's been a real privilege to spend more time on Country with the Traditional Owners of Cape York and Torres Strait this past year. Moving forward, I hope we see more investment in high-value tourism that brings direct benefits to these remote communities and ensures their natural environments are protected.

I hope to take a small group of game-changing Traditional Owner, tourism entrepreneurs from the region on a tourism experiential learning journey to Africa next year, contingent on funding support, and to help building their capacity for high-value, conservation-focused tourism. Seeing how the high-value African safari lodges work, both from the perspective of being a tourist and behind the scenes through the eyes of waiters, cooks, cleaners and local camp managers, and understanding how joint venture tourism works between communities and tourism companies in Africa is something that would be of enormous value to build confidence and capacity for high-value tourism as we move towards the 2032 Olympics in Queensland. I've always believed that the best world-changing conversations often happen around a campfire, whether it's in Africa or Australia. There's just something about the wood smoke and the stars and the right group of people that brings a unique sense of perspective and a kind of camaraderie that stays with you for life.

I want to extend a special thanks to Melinda Eades for her unwavering support for this work and to the Remote Area Board of the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning for funding the project. Perina Drummond , Stephanie Toy , Mali Ingram and Richie Bates from the Qld Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport have been a great source of support, collaboration and encouragement in the past year. Thank you to Mark Olsen and Jim Turnour for valuable reviews of my reports.

Finally, I want to thank the mayors and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Councils who together comprise TCICA , a coalition of 17 Councils across Cape York, Gulf and Torres Strait. This vast region encompasses 131,000 square kilometres and has a population of 30,000 people, of which two-thirds are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. I acknowledge and pay respects to all the Traditional Owners, both past and present, in all of Cape York, Gulf and Torres Strait, as well as the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people of the Yidinji nation who are the custodians of the land on which I live and work.