A South West Aboriginal tourism business is set to benefit from $4.6 million investment from the state government, with the recent announcement that 17 businesses across the state will receive coaching and mentoring over three years. The Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association is pleased to reveal that we have partnered with Josh Whiteland on a brand new aboriginal tourism product ‘Cape Cultural Tours’, which has been selected as one of the tourism experiences set to benefit from this investment.
Cape Cultural Tours, based in Dunsborough, have collaborated with the MRBTA throughout the application process and we are thrilled to be able to support them with the infrastructure to make this a truly incredible tourism experience. An exciting launch for this new product will be happening soon, so watch this space for details to come.
Vasse MP Libby Mettam said the support for Aboriginal tourism would add another string to the bow of tourism in the region.
“Cape Cultural Tours deserve to be congratulated for becoming inaugural recipients of this highly competitive tourism program,” she said. “Having a bush kitchen at the lighthouse will be a significant drawcard for local and international tourists alike. Importantly this will add a necessary cultural value to the visitor experience.”
Ms Mettam said there was evidence which showed that one in five visitors to WA participated in the an Aboriginal tourism experience last year and three quarters of tourists would be interested if these activities were more accessible.
“Aboriginal tourism helps protect and preserve traditional culture whilst also motivating visitors to increase their length of stay across regional and remote WA,” Regional lands minister Terry Redman said.
Tourism minister Kim Hames said the funding responded to an unmet demand which would help provide visitors with an opportunity to enjoy an authentic Aboriginal experience.
“These experiences are an essential component of the Government’s strategy to raise the profile of regional tourism and increase visitor spend from $3.8 billion in regional WA last year to $4.75 billion by 2020,” he said.
The WA Indigenous Tourism Operations Council has also welcomed a new chair in Than Donovan. Ms Donovan is a Wardandi woman originally from Busselton and has extensive experience in tourism, environmental sustainability and small business. She said she was honoured to take on the position with the new Royalties for Regions funding being announced for the sector.