Biography
The Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Committee (WAITOC) is the peak non-for-profit association representing Indigenous Tourism in Western Australia. WAITOC comprises membership from all regions within Western Australia. The association is autonomous and provides advice and information to government agencies as well as the tourism industry sector.

Aboriginal Tourism - Maximising the Opportunity
Can the current industry sector meet the International demand for authentic Indigenous experiences? WAITOC believes we can. Being the first of its kind in Australia, the WAITOC Association Inc has seen the rise and fall of many Indigenous businesses in the tourism industry. However, the current trend is up in the number of quality authentic Indigenous tourism businesses.

Biography

I am a former Council Member of the Australian National Museum, Canberra.

As a result of my interest in history and museums, I have been working with the Corroora Historical Society which has established a special area for Gubbi Gubbi people’s culture.

My family has inherited sporting abilities from my great-great grandfather who was a member of Australia’s first national cricket team (it was all Aboriginal and toured England). I am former discus champion of Queensland, captained the State Netball side and represented Australia as part of the 1956 Olympic Training Squad. At the time I was Victorian Discus Champion, South Australian and world record holder (for height & weight) in Discus.

I teach language, have written several books, including “Conned” which won a David Unaipon prize.

At present I am writing the history of the Gubbi Gubbi people and a novel.

Welcome to Country

 

 

The Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Committee (WAITOC) is the peak non-for-profit association representing Indigenous Tourism in Western Australia. WAITOC comprises membership from all regions within Western Australia. The association is autonomous and provides advice and information to government agencies as well as the tourism industry sector.

Aboriginal Tourism - Maximising the Opportunity
Can the current industry sector meet the International demand for authentic Indigenous experiences? WAITOC believes we can. Being the first of its kind in Australia, the WAITOC Association Inc has seen the rise and fall of many Indigenous businesses in the tourism industry. However, the current trend is up in the number of quality authentic Indigenous tourism businesses.

 

 

 

 

 

Biography
Kim has a background in business development, economic and skills development and strategic partnerships.

Kim has worked in various operational roles within government, private sector and her own business in the UK and Australia. She has worked with the education, engineering, retail, finance, and for the past six years, in the tourism industry.

Kim has a state wide role where she has operational responsibility for QTIC led Queensland Tourism Strategy Actions, state wide committees, liaison with Association Council and Regional Tourism Organisations and directly with industry members. Kim has worked on developing a stronger Indigenous participation within mainstream tourism since 2007.

Tourism Employment Champions Lead The Way
The Queensland Tourism Industry Council is supporting Queensland's businesses to demonstrate practical, economic and sustainable business and career opportunities for Indigenous peoples.

The innovative Tourism Employment Champions Network supports operators by providing relevant resources and network opportunities. Champion Tony O'Connor of Kookaburra Tours will case study his innovative 'Dreamtime Journey' product. This will provide practical insight into how established non Indigenous Award winning products when working in partnerships with emerging/developing Indigenous products can create unsurpassed indigenous tourism experiences. Legacies of such partnerships provide industry leadership, insight into sustainable business practice and role models for Indigenous communities and individuals to embrace the tourism industry.

 

Mr. Andrew Lane
National Sales and Marketing Manager - V3 Leisure

Biography
Andrew is the National Sales and Marketing Manager for V3, and having worked for the company since its inception over 5 years ago, through the significant growth phase of the online environment for the tourism industry, has ensured a broad range of knowledge in this specialized area. In is role, Andrew has worked closely with Government Tourism Organisations and key marketing bodies to maximize their individual digital strategies. Andrew’s experience with V3 is supplemented with over 20 years broader tourism experience, including senior management roles in both Tourism Australia (then Australian Tourist Commission) and the Perth Convention Bureau.

Indigenous Tourism Online Program
Technology has had a tremendous impact on the tourism industry over the past few years. However, it has been difficult for most small businesses and destination marketing to embrace new technologies and the emergence of innovative advertising and marketing strategies. This presentation will identify the key trends in tourism marketing technologies going into the next 5-10 years and how the Indigenous Tourism Online Program, managed by V3, is one tool that can help small businesses take advantage of these changes. The key objective is to ‘e-commerce enable’ Indigenous tourism operators across Australia to maximise exposure to consumers through the deployment of the Open Booking Exchange (OBX), thus in turn delivering more exposure to the world’s consumers. This program also assists in the ongoing education and product development of Indigenous tourism operators. The OBX model enables Indigenous tourism operators to be less dependent on traditional travel distribution channels and yield better profit returns on products sold, by facilitating consumers with the opportunity to search, book and pay direct on-line.

Biography
James Macletchie was fostered in the Outer Hebrides at the early age of six years and this life changing experience of growing up in an indigenous community with more than 8000 years of history has left him determined to protect, promote and preserve these unique cultures.

From an early age he learnt the native language of Gaelic and became immersed in the culture and place. He worked as a lobster fisherman from the age of fifteen and developed a deep passion for remote islands and their wildlife. In 1999 he became the first Countryside Ranger for the whole of the Southern Isles of the Hebrides till he was made redundant in 2003 due to a lack of funding. Undeterred he headed to California and completed a diploma in International Tour guiding and management. From this time his life changed and he began to deliver tours across the world as far away as the Falkland’s, Iceland, Ireland, Scotland and South America.

Back in the Hebrides he set up Hebridean Adventures and began to develop new tourism initiatives which focused on culture, language and remote locations. He pioneered trips forty one miles out into the Atlantic Ocean to the dual world Heritage site of St Kilda and was the focus for Green Travel TV in 2008 and they launched their online site with the program “The Outer Hebrides of James Macletchie”.

His passion for adventures and Eco Tourism saw him asked to develop the first trans Atlantic Trips from the Hebrides to Iceland and beyond using a 76 ft Clipper adventure Sailing Boat as well as sailing trips to St Kilda . In 2010 The BBC TV Presenter Monty Halls filmed his second Series “Monty Halls Great Hebridean Escape” in the Uists and used James as the inspiration for the series as he tried to come and become a volunteer Ranger and recreate the job James lost in 2003. James also acted as consultant to the production team and this enabled him to further promote the beautiful islands, people, language and culture he loves. This program was screened in May 2010 on BBC 2.

In 2009 he was selected along with another nine as the first Eco Ambassador by the International Tourism Association enabling him to further develop and promote the message of Eco tourism.

James is a keen travel writer and tourism trainer for visit Scotland as well as a keen naturalist and photographer along with his other passion music. In 2007 he set up a band called Bi Beo ( Live Life) and began to develop new songs in his native language. Today the band has released two albums, performed in Iceland, Ireland, England and Scotland and is now preparing for the USA and Germany. The band only performs in their native language of Gaelic. Their music is unique and demonstrates fully that language and culture is no barrier for an audience.

Creating an Indigenous Experience at the Edge of the World
Creating a travel journey which encourages visitors to experience remoteness, culture and a people while behaving responsible is a difficult task, yet not an impossible one with the right frame of mind. This presentation focuses on the value of indigenous tourism and by combining it through Eco tourism the very sustainability of that community and peoples is preserved.

Examples are taken from the Hebrides and Iceland where James has developed new initiatives within these communities. The focus will also be on running an indigenous based business and the benefits this can have both for the people and the traveller.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ms. Kristi O'Brien
Experiences Project Manager, Indigenous Tourism - Tourism Australia

Biography
In 1990, 23-year-old Bruce Poon Tip founded Gap Adventures with two credit cards and a desire to create an authentic, sustainable travel experience like no other. The budding entrepreneur organized small-group adventure tours to off-the-beaten-path destinations offering travellers an alternative to the resorts and cruises they were accustomed to. In doing this, Bruce changed the face of travel. Twenty years later, his belief in the core values that powered the company in those early days are as strong as ever.

Chief among them: Bruce’s passion for changing the lives of the more than 100,000 passengers who travel with Gap Adventures each year. Bruce nourished a belief that Gap Adventures should lead the travel industry with unparalleled customer service by developing benefits such as lifetime trip deposits, eliminating single-traveller supplements and providing 24/7 service. Bruce was also determined to build a business that would change the world by simply doing the right thing all the time, every time.

Determined to lead his industry in sustainable tourism and community development initiatives, Bruce founded the non-profit Planeterra Foundation in 2003. Gap Adventures was awarded the 2009 World Savers Award by Condé Nast Traveler magazine, as well as the 2009 Travel and Leisure Global Vision Leadership Award for voluntourism.

A top draw on the international speaking circuit, Bruce's numerous engagements have included talks on sustainability and tourism at the 2010 TED Whistler and TED Bangkok events, and an invitation from the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders' Forum to present at the inaugural United Nations World Tourism Organization Seminar on Ethics in Tourism.

Changing People's Lives Through Community Partnerships
Bruce will be happy to talk about how Gap Adventures looks to change the lives of the local communities that they visit through meaningful projects. Bruce and Gap Adventures have been working in partnership with several communities throughout the world on a long-term, ongoing basis over many years. Bruce has been fortunate enough to return to visit many of these communities in recent years and see the incredibly positive impact that passengers and staff have made to the lives of people within these communities.

Bruce set up the Planeterra Foundation in 2003 to give back to the communities that Gap Adventures' tours visit. Since its inception, Planeterra has set up projects in over 20 communities throughout the world. Bruce will discuss the importance of engagement with the local community to ensure the long-term survival of projects, and empowering local people to help themselves.