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Plan to offer Aboriginal tourism

palm island 2007 photo courtesy Jose Calarco

12 April 2007 - Overseas tourists would pay to live in indigenous communities and enjoy the authentic experience of Aboriginal life, under a scheme being pushed by Aden Ridgeway.

The former Australian Democrats senator, who now heads the Indigenous Tourism Australia agency, said he aimed to put the plan to the Howard Government.

Mr Ridgeway, who returned from an Aboriginal tourism roadshow to Europe in February, said there had been keen interest in the idea. "It's what I call voluntourism," he said. "It's really about getting astute tourists who want to go somewhere and give something back.

"So while it's at an embryonic stage as an idea, I want to talk toVolunteers Australia about setting up something that's based on tourism within communities where visitors from overseas maywant to spend a couple of weeks."

Rolling out the scheme in many communities would require investment from the Government and the private sector.

"You'll need sleeping accommodation, cooking facilities and so on," Mr Ridgeway said.
"It brings money into a community, it brings skills into a community and also provides a means where the community can use tourism for their self-development."

He said many holidaymakers were ready for a different kind of experience. "This would suit the particular kind of tourists we've identified that have disposable cash, they've been to all the resorts in the world - but they want to give something back," hesaid.

"It won't suit everyone but people throughout the world would see this as a holiday experience. We know there's a market out there that's interested in finding something authentic and different."
Tourism Minister Fran Bailey said she was interested in pursuing the idea.

Source: The Australian

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