INDIGENOUS TOURISM SUMMIT 2000
Gatjil Djerrkura, ATSIC
Aboriginal people see indigenous tourism as a two-way partnership with the mainstream industry. At the same time, our involvement can provide economic independence amongst our communities and help preserve our diverse cultures. The estimate from the bureau of Tourism Research is that 557,000 international tourists visited sites & attractions in 1996. On the domestic side there is interest in indigenous tourism by the southern & eastern states. I believe we need more research to identify what domestic visitors are looking for in indigenous tourism. Coming to this summit is about recognising the achievements and encouraging partnerships between the mainstream tourism sector and experience our unique product in the tourism market.

There are many businesses, joint ventures and employment opportunities emerging for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island people around the country. In fact, some of our most successful businesses are joint ventures and many indigenous Australians have gone into major employment agreements with major companies like the mining industry for example.

Joint-venture projects also create employment opportunities for our people and a choice in how we can promote our culture to international & domestic visitors. Australia has many opportunities available through indigenous tourism & the competitive local tourism market. Just imagine what we can achieve if the indigenous tourism industry & the mainstream tourism industry can work together to achieve outcomes for both sectors. I would like to encourage all industry bodies, associations, councils and the commissions to promote the use of culturally appropriate Indigenous tourism and how it can better meet the needs of international visitors. Support initiatives that aim to increase indigenous employment within the mainstream tourism enterprise at all levels.

Including indigenous training and employment opportunities in any development of tourism enterprise is important and was seen during the Sydney Olympics and Para Olympics. We saw the Games as Australia's opportunity to show the world how we are surviving and we have survived and have taken advantage of the opportunity that tourism can create.
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