The
Indigenous Tourism Forum is held on Monday
7 November at the Australian National
Maritime Museum in Sydney as part of the
Global Eco Asia-Pacific Tourism Conference. The
Forum features an excellent compilation of national
and international speakers. The latest
additions to the speaker program will be updated
here as they are confirmed.
Program
Mr.
Nima Azari - Manager, Avaye Tabiate
Paydar (Ecotourism Institute)
Monday
7 November 5:50-16:10 - Indigenous Tourism
Forum
Tourist Site Enhancement with
Local Community Participation
Qeshm Island in Southern
Iran possesses unique natural and cultural characteristics.
On the coast of Shibderaz village, the endangered
turtles known as hawks bill lay eggs. Traditionally,
the local people used their eggs for food. Since
2001, a phased project of conservation, ecotourism
and handicrafts production supported by the United
Nations has been launched with participation of
the local community, which has contributed to the
conservation and enhancement of tourist potentials,
and has diminished the smuggling of goods. Phase
1 - conservation At this stage, the local people
were encouraged to stop using the eggs for food,
by enhancing their awareness and holding educational
workshops, with collaboration of the local religious
leaders and dignitaries. Phase 2 - Ecotourism This
phase, which was undertaken with participation of
the local community, was aimed at controlling and
managing the tourist potentials of the village and
upgrading the provision of tourist services, and
guiding the tourists in a systematic way.
This
phase brought about three achievements:
• Establishment of a local tourism body.
• Establishment of a local fund to contribute
to the sustainability of conservation
• Disciplined zoning and arrangement of the
applications on the basis of Environmental consideration.
Phase
3 - Handicrafts & Rural Women Empowerment At
this phase, the rural women who are traditional
absent from social activities, were encouraged to
organize in a group and revitalized their traditional
handicrafts, using new designs and producing new
products with new applications, which are sold and
earn revenues to support the conservation project.
Biography
Master’s
Degree : Architecture -1991-1999 - Azad University-Tehran
Master’s
Degree 2 :Landscape Design-2000-2007 -Shahid Beheshti
University -Tehran
Teaching Background :
- Teaching geography, arts and architecture and
tourism industry in educational institute of tourism
industry
- Professor of tourism geography in Alameh Tabatabaie
University - bachelor degree
Presentation:
- Presentation in first and third educational and
specialized congress of Ecotourism
- Publish related articles to tourism in some tourism
magazines
- Training course for experts of national committee
of ecotourism about local community.
Professional
Backgrounds :
- Manager of the development of Shibderaz village’s
ecotourism project based on abilities of local communities
with association of United Nations Organization.
UNDP/GEF/SGP
- Executive manager of ecotourism project of Hengam
Island with association of United Nations Organization.
UNDP/GEF/SGP.
- Secretary of three national ecotourism congresses
in Tehran - Iran
- Manager of Avaye - tabiate - paydar ecotourism
institutute ( education and research)
- Member of curriculum council of national committee
of ecotourism.
- Member of ecotourism council of United Nation
Organization. UNDP/GEF/SGP
Mr.
Haydyn Bromley - Cultural Director,
Bookabee Tours Australia
Monday
7 November 13:30-13:50) - Indigenous
Tourism Forum
Biography
Bookabee
Tours Australia Tours Australia is an Aboriginal
owned and operated chauffeured 4WD tour operation
based in Adelaide. Our blend of authentic Aboriginal
cultural experiences and mainstream touring makes
us a multi-award winning tour company.
Haydyn
Bromley, tour operator, is a qualified teacher and
an experienced guide. He is an Adnyamathanha person
from the Flinders Ranges. Haydyn provides diverse
interpretations of the land that can only be truly
explained and told by a local, as well as personal
insights and experiences that are both historical
and cultural.
A
Bookabee tour will take you on an incredible journey
through breath-taking scenery with rugged mountains,
scenic gorges, historic outback towns and abundant
wildlife. Our tours incorporate first hand knowledge
of the culture and heritage of the local Adnyamathanha
people, which enriches the visitors understanding
and experiences of the outback. Hear Aboriginal
Creation stories that will bring geographical features
to life, and visit sites to see ancient paintings
and engravings. We take pride in sharing exclusive
locations and culturally significant sites only
accessible with the accompaniment of a local Adnyamathanha
guide.
Miss.
Afsaneh Ehsani - Educational Manager,
Avaye Tabiate Paydar (Ecotourism Institute)
Monday
7 November 16:00-16:30 - Indigenous
Tourism Forum
Effects
of Ecotourism Residences on Local Community
The present study is aimed at examining the impact
of native residences (ecotourism cluster) on the
local community. This article is based on the author's
field observations and interviews with the local
people living in Iran's ecotourism sites. As a model,
81 questionnaires were completed by local residents
of Garmeh village who were somehow in contact with
tourists. The author, as an ecotourism guide, has
studied the positive and negative effects of native
residences through organizing educational tours
and talking to the host community in these regions.
The findings of this field study suggest that existence
of native residences in the studied rural areas
have contributed to the enhancement and improvement
of the quality of life of the local community. The
positive impact of the native residences on these
regions and in particular on Garmeh village includes
the presence of women in social activities, their
participation in the production of handicrafts,
their empowerment for selling and marketing the
handicraft products; equipping the village with
more facilities, more attention paid to the needs
of the village by the authorities etc. Poorly planned
visits by tourists, inattention to the cultural
and environmental considerations of the host community,
unjust distribution of revenues, unhealthy competition
among the members of the local community, increased
price of land etc., are among the negative effects
of the promotion of ecotourism in these regions.
Biography
Bachelor’s Degree: Biology -1994 - Shahid
Beheshti University - TEHRAN
Master’s Degree: Tourism planning & Geography
2008 - Olum Tahghighat- Azad University -TEHRAN
Teaching
Background:
- Teaching ecotourism in educational institute of
tourism indust
- Teaching the leadership techniques in educational
institutes of tourism industry
- Professor of tourism geography in Alameh Tabatabaie
University
- bachelor degre
Publishes:
- Publish the Eftekhare Mandegar handbook(in tourism
field) 2005
- Publish articles related to tourism in some tourism
magazines
Presentations:
- Presentation in the first educational and specialized
congress of Ecotourism (Iran-Tehran)
- Presentation about the relation between handicraft
and ecotourism -Iran - Tabriz university
- Presentation in training course for experts of
national committee of ecotourism about local community.
Professional and Research Backgrounds:
- Organizing 9 ecotourism guide training courses
of and 4 cultural guide
- Organizing courses and workshop for children and
their teachers about nature.
- Management, planning and executing the project
of editing the educational booklet of tour guide
training course
- Manager of the project of empowering of Qeshm
Island’s women for marketing their handicraft
and traditional arts
- United Nations Development Program/GEF/SGP
- Member of curriculum council of national committee
of ecotourism
Ms.
Wendy Hills - State Co-ordinator
- NSW/VIC/TAS, Indigenous Business Australia, Policy
& Partnerships Branch
Monday
7 November 10:30-17:00 - Indigenous
Tourism Forum - Chair
Monday
7 November 12:00-12:20 - Indigenous
Tourism Forum
The
Indigenous Tourism Champions Program
The Indigenous Tourism Champions Program
(ITCP) is now in its second year and is being implemented
by Tourism Australia (TA) and Indigenous Business
Australia (IBA) with significant support and involvement
from the State and Territory Tourism Organisations
(STO’s).
The ITCP is a cohesive national program linking
IBAs financial investment in supply side initiatives
for business improvement (for Full Members and Marketing
Members) in with TA’s demand side marketing
initiatives.
The ITCP looks to maintain and enhance the competitive
advantage Indigenous culture offers Australian tourism
by building a reputation of reliability and consistent
quality in service delivery. The ITCP is achieving
this through selective marketing of product which
has met stringent criteria, ensuring that the businesses
being promoted are able to meet the needs and expectations
of trade and the international market.
The mentoring program is underway with three specialist
tourism consultancies delivering tailored mentoring
for all full members. Marketing Members are also
benefitting from mentoring support through Indigenous
Business Australia’s Business Support Program.
The mentoring process facilitates the transference
of a range of business improvement skills, as well
as working with Champions to identify the most effective
marketing channels and trade events for them to
participate in. IBA is also contributing to some
of costs to enable the Champions to participate
in agreed events.
A marketing activity plan has been completed and
is currently being implemented and fully supported
by TA offering the Indigenous Tourism Champions
extensive exposure through TA marketing channels
both domestically and overseas.
Members of the ITCP are exclusively eligible to
participate in Tourism Australia’s Indigenous
tourism marketing initiatives, which includes trade
events, road shows, trade training initiatives,
online marketing, print marketing and other marketing
initiatives.
Indigenous Tourism Operators must be nominated for
inclusion in the program by their State Tourism
Organisation (or other nominated State based representative);
they then must apply and meet the criteria for membership.
There are three membership categories, each with
specific support mechanisms in place, tailored to
market and grow the participating businesses in
accordance with their individual needs.
Biography
Wendy has spent the last 23 years working
in the tourism industry in various marketing and
development roles, including destination, product
and industry development with a strong focus and
expertise in indigenous tourism and the importance
that this sector plays in identifying Australia's
cultural strengths and 'point of difference', in
a very competitive global marketplace.
She has worked for private enterprises companies,
two State Tourism Organisations and Tourism Australia
as the head of the Australian Experiences team,
responsible for the development and marketing of
Australia's 7 key experiences, including Aboriginal
Australia.
In November of 2008, Wendy joined Indigenous Business
Australia (IBA), the federal agency responsible
for assisting Indigenous Australians maximise opportunities
for wealth creation through home ownership, businesses
enterprise and/or equity investments. Her responsibility
in growing indigenous economic development requires
her to actively encourage and broker effective partnerships
with key stakeholders, both government and private
enterprise so that indigenous individuals, communities
and corporations are able to maximise innovative
and practical programs aimed at achieving long-term
commercial and sustainable outcomes.
Her portfolio includes the three states of NSW,
Victoria and Tasmania, as well as the tourism industry,
and the newly created Indigenous Tourism Champions
Program which is managed by Wendy on behalf of IBA,
along with Tourism Australia and the State Tourism
Organisations.
Mr.
Rohit Khadka - Chairman, Nepal Tourism Association
Monday
7 November 11:40-12:00 - Indigenous
Tourism Forum
Indigenous
Tourism in Himalayan Region
Tourism for together for indigenousness people who
are living in mountain region of Nepal. There is
no any option for them to make a sustainable income
source except tourism. Traditional culture,life
style,leaving style may be the good tourism product
as well for Eco-tourism students, it may be the
best place to collect knowledge and to share ideas
too.
Biography
I’m Rohit Khadka, Chairman of Nepal Tourism
Association (NTA) and Managing Director of Oracle
Travels & Tours Pvt. Ltd. based in Kathmandu,
Nepal. Since last 12 years I have been dedicated
with the tourism industry in Nepal with the view
of developing awareness on Eco-Tourism. I also work
with the concept of responsible tourism.
My passion is tourism. I want to introduce eco-friendly
new concept of tourism in the different part of
Nepal. From my company and association, we have
taken different initiatives and measures to aware
and attach grass root level people to these concepts.
My mission is to create eco-friendly tourism atmosphere
through responsibility.
Mrs.
La Vergne Lehmann - Board Member, Australian Native
Food Industry Ltd. (ANFIL)
Monday
7 November 14:10-14:30 - Indigenous
Tourism Forum
Indigenous
Tourism: let's taste the product!
While it is not a new concept to consider tourism
enterprises combined with agrifood and culinary
enterprises, there is still much to learn in the
successful development of sustainable long term
enterprises within indigenous communities in outback
regions of Australia. It is well known that around
80 percent of visitors to Australia express a desire
to participate in and indigenous cultural experience
and that includes experiencing native food ingredients
in their meals. Yet only 20 percent are currently
fulfilling that experience. Evidence suggests native
food ingredients are an essential link to the living
heritage that is embodied in indigenous cultural
experiences. It is evidenced in the outback landscape,
the artistic and cultural life of people and how
they present themselves and their narratives to
their guests. Building on a strong base in outback
regions will allow for strong product development
and significant market outcomes that will provide
a sustainable and strong economic future for many
indigenous communities.
Biography
Apart
from working towards finishing her PhD in sustainable
water management in tourism, managing a family tourism
and running a household of several teenagers, La
Vergne is also a board member of the Australian
Native Food Industry Ltd (ANFIL). A 20 year passion
for using and developing native food products has
seen her and her husband start developing a native
food plantation on the family farm. La Vergne organised
the first national conference on native foods for
ANFIL in Adelaide as part of Tasting Australia in
May 2010 and currently manages their website.
Mrs.
Helen Lewis - General Manager - Outback Highway
Development Council Inc
Indigenous Tourism Forum - (11:20-11:40)
Heart
of Australian Indigenous Experiences
The Outback Way is 2800km from Laverton in WA through
to Winton in Qld- it is Australia's longest shortcut!
Traversing the heart of indigenous australia, their
communities, their lives and their culture. The
Outback Way is working with the Indigenous Land
Council, Central Aboriginal Experiences and Tour
companies- to maximise exposure for existing indigenous
tourism experiences along the Outback Way and linking
with the ILC development at Yulara/ Uluru of an
Indigenous Tourism training centre. The 7 shires
along the Outback Way can highlight the tourism
opportunities in each of their communities for indigenous
tourism trainees to work on. The synergy will create
a genuine indigenous tourism experience, tourism/economic
development for communities and enhanced cultural
product for tourists. The Outback Way route will
link the numerous indigenous tourism expereinces
avialable in the heart of our nation.
Biography
Helen
Lewis is the General Manager for the Outback Highway
Development Counciland has been involved since 2003.
Helen's experience is in policy development, funding,
lobbying and secretariate services. Helen has also
had extensive policy advising, agripolitical and
agribusiness expereince. In the last 5 years the
OHDC inc has obtained $20million for road development
for the Outback way - over 3 tiers of government,
and also implemented a $487,370 Integrated Tourism
Plan. Indigenous Tourism, is the area the tourism
research highlighted requires some work- the collaboration
opporutnities are exciting and will deliver for
indigenous tourism initiatives.
Mr.
David Morgans - Director Destination and
Market Design - Tourism Queensland
Monday
7 November 13:50-14:10 - Indigenous
Tourism Forum
Learnings
from across the Ditch & Desert
Indigenous tourism offerings are much sort after
and a great point of difference for Australia. With
Experience Seekers looking for ever more engaging
and authentic experiences, Tourism Queensland created
an innovative program to assist operators to meet
that demand. The Tourism Queensland Indigenous Tourism
Development Missions took over 30 operators to Rotorua,
New Zealand and Kakadu, Northern Territory. This
presentation will explore the outcomes of the missions
from an experience development perspective.
Biography
David
Morgans is Director Destination and Market Design
at Tourism Queensland. David is responsible for
guiding the corporation’s destination management
framework and the development of the key market
segments of Protected Area Tourism and Indigenous
Tourism.
David joined Tourism Queensland
in 1997 and over the last 14 years has held a range
of positions including Director Product Development,
Director Market Development, Director Sustainable
Tourism and Manager Environmental Tourism.
David
has a Bachelor of Environmental Science from Griffith
University in Brisbane and a Post Graduate Diploma
in Urban & Regional Planning from New England
University. David’s career over the last 30
years has specialised in tourism planning &
policy development, destination management, ecotourism,
sustainable tourism, environmental & regional
planning, and protected area management.
Ms.
Kristi O'Brien - Experiences Project Manager, Indigenous
Tourism, Tourism Australia
Monday
7 November 12:00-12:20 - Indigenous
Tourism Forum
The
Indigenous Tourism Champions Program
The Indigenous Tourism Champions Program
(ITCP) is now in its second year and is being implemented
by Tourism Australia (TA) and Indigenous Business
Australia (IBA) with significant support and involvement
from the State and Territory Tourism Organisations
(STO’s).
The ITCP is a cohesive national program linking
IBAs financial investment in supply side initiatives
for business improvement (for Full Members and Marketing
Members) in with TA’s demand side marketing
initiatives.
The ITCP looks to maintain and enhance the competitive
advantage Indigenous culture offers Australian tourism
by building a reputation of reliability and consistent
quality in service delivery. The ITCP is achieving
this through selective marketing of product which
has met stringent criteria, ensuring that the businesses
being promoted are able to meet the needs and expectations
of trade and the international market.
The mentoring program is underway with three specialist
tourism consultancies delivering tailored mentoring
for all full members. Marketing Members are also
benefitting from mentoring support through Indigenous
Business Australia’s Business Support Program.
The mentoring process facilitates the transference
of a range of business improvement skills, as well
as working with Champions to identify the most effective
marketing channels and trade events for them to
participate in. IBA is also contributing to some
of costs to enable the Champions to participate
in agreed events.
A marketing activity plan has been completed and
is currently being implemented and fully supported
by TA offering the Indigenous Tourism Champions
extensive exposure through TA marketing channels
both domestically and overseas.
Members of the ITCP are exclusively eligible to
participate in Tourism Australia’s Indigenous
tourism marketing initiatives, which includes trade
events, road shows, trade training initiatives,
online marketing, print marketing and other marketing
initiatives.
Indigenous Tourism Operators must be nominated for
inclusion in the program by their State Tourism
Organisation (or other nominated State based representative);
they then must apply and meet the criteria for membership.
There are three membership categories, each with
specific support mechanisms in place, tailored to
market and grow the participating businesses in
accordance with their individual needs.
Biography
Kristi
O’Brien has over 15 years of experience in
the tourism industry and is now Tourism Australia’s
Experiences Project Manager – Indigenous Tourism.
For the past three years at Tourism Australia she
has delivered a number of innovative programs including
working with IBA to develop the Indigenous Tourism
Champions Program. This has ensured a whole of government
approach to Indigenous tourism development within
an agreed framework, enabling TA to facilitate the
building of strong and lasting relationships.
Kristi has worked extensively in the private sector
and has brought this entrepreneurial drive, enthusiasm
and strategic focus to her role at Tourism Australia
instigating projects such as the highly successful
Indigenous tourism photo shoot which is currently
the most downloaded collection in the Tourism Australia
Image Library. Her trade networks have facilitated
the delivery of four very high profile Indigenous
Tourism Trade Events which have been instrumental
in shifting perceptions and improving awareness
of the diversity of awesome Indigenous experiences
on offer in Australia.
Kristi has worked in Product Development for two
ITO’s, a Wholesaler and Tourism NT, giving
her direct experience in all sectors of the global
supply chain. In 1998 Kristi was integral in setting
up a specialist Inbound Tour Operator which has
grown to be at the forefront sales and marketing
of Indigenous experiences in Australia and overseas.
Kristi sits on the Indigenous Government Forum Panel
and the Indigenous Tourism Industry Advisory Panel.
She holds a Bachelor of Business (Tourism) and a
Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
She developed a passion for Indigenous tourism following
extensive travels where she immersed herself in
a range of cultural experiences around the world,
and across Australia.
Mr.
Neville Poelina - Chairman - WAITOC Association
Inc.
Monday
7 November 15:30-15:50 - Indigenous
Tourism Forum
Seize
the Potential of Empowered Indigenous Tourism
WAITOC Association Inc. is a product of empowered
Indigenous tourism that has achieved what no other
Australian Indigenous tourism organisation has managed
to do. It has forged a pathway from its inception
over ten years ago and has now entered into its
4th phase of empowered evolvement, focused by its
vision to see the creation of a vibrant authentic
Indigenous tourism industry as an integral component
of Australia’s tourism industry. Its eventful
journey has been marked by the achievement of a
series of building block milestones. These milestones
have included the establishment of a suitable organisational
mechanism for engagement, establishing its credentials
with government and the industry, demonstrating
its capability to deliver and now positioning itself
as an agent for change to realise the full economic
potential of Indigenous tourism in Western Australia
and provide an example of leadership for Indigenous
Australia.
Biography
Neville
is a Nyikina man from the Kimberley. He is presently
Chairperson of WAITOC and a member of the Tourism
WA board of commissioners. Neville was born in Derby
WA and is the proud father of five children. He
has lived in the Kimberley all his life and holds
a wealth of knowledge of the region. He has traditional
ties right throughout the Kimberley and Aboriginal
culture and society is his life. Starting off selling
bait and fishing trips to Broome’s visitors
at 6 years of age, Neville has been involved in
tourism all of his life. He has been operating his
own business Uptuyu Adventures since 2002.
Neville was called back to his traditional lands
to establish the Oongkalkada Wilderness Camp and
Indigenous Training Centre where he now bases his
business operations. Neville is passionate about
sharing cultural insights in the spectacular ever
changing Kimberley.
His diverse employment background is based around
positions of responsibility in the areas of pearling,
diving and training and more recently as a tourism
and Indigenous culture consultant.
His latest endeavour is to see WAITOC champion a
national Indigenous tourism representative body
and an international Indigenous tourism alliance.
