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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.

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Mr. Edward Langham - Senior Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures
Wednesday 9 November 14:00-14:20 - Urban Ecotourism: greening the destination

Harnessing the Potential of Clean Energy in Local Tourism Accommodation: a case study approach
There is huge and underdeveloped potential to apply clean energy technologies and practices in tourism operations around the world, to realise benefits for a range of stakeholders. Benefits include cost reduction for tourism service providers; the improvement of service provision for both guests and local communities; and growing the market for socially responsible tourism operations within a particular business or region. Yet tourism providers and policy makers are often unfamiliar with the ways and means to approach clean energy implementation. This presentation outlines how these stakeholders can seize the potential of clean energy options, such as local renewable generation and energy efficiency. It explores the decision-making steps required, using lessons drawn from case studies of clean energy best practice in tourism accommodation. The findings are based on 19 case studies from 14 countries from rural Peru to urban Australia, covering a range of technology options and innovative government programs.

Biography
Ed is a researcher with the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) at the University of Technology Sydney. He has a background in environmental science and law, with experience spanning public and private sectors, focusing on clean energy deployment for climate change mitigation. His specific research interests at ISF relate to sustainable design of the built environment and harnessing economic community development opportunities through the integration of efficient and renewable energy technologies. In recent years Ed has worked extensively in the Pacific region, first with the Fiji Department of Energy, then as Renewable Energy Advisor with the Samoa electricity utility developing clean energy options both for off-grid rural development and reducing reliance of the electrical grid on imported fossil fuels. He is presenting ISF’s best practice manual on Clean Technology in Tourist Accommodation completed for the APEC Tourism Working Group and the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre.

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.

Wednesday 9 November 12:00-12:30 - Managing and Marketing the Tourism Experience

A Land of Drought ...and Flooding Rain?
In 2009, after more than a decade of drought, the town of Dimboola in the Grampians Wimmera region in western Victoria finally had water back in their river. Experiencing a renewed confidence in the opportunities that the return a significant water body like the Wimmera River offered for events and increased tourism visitation, the town made plans. Just sixteen months later, in January 2011, the inevitable flood washed all that hope away again. Managing even a small tourism sector in a land of extremes will test even the most optimistic of communities and businesses. A review of the media coverage and community planning activities during the decade of drought and then the flood reveals how important the right amount of freshwater is for tourism, business and community confidence.
Biography (max 150 words): La Vergne Lehmann is currently undertaking PhD research with the School of Business and the Water in Drylands Cooperative Research Program at the University of Ballarat. Her principle area of interest is in sustainable tourism with a specific focus on water issues and the specific role that fresh water plays in the development of tourism.

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.

Mr. David Lennon - Director, Sustainable Oceans International Pty Ltd
Wednesday 9 November 11:40-12:00 - Tourism: a strategic partnership for protected areas

Bringing New Hope to Reefs

Biography
David has a relatively unique background blending marine science and business development. He has a MSc in Environmental Management and is a highly skilled and innovative Business and Product Development Manager with a passion for helping conserve the marine environment. He has 20 years international and local experience working with Industry, Consultancies, Government, NGO’s and Research Institutes to help develop and deliver environmental solutions. He has also run his own ecotour guide business in the Moreton Bay Marine Park. David is the Director of Sustainable Oceans International, a company that is dedicated to helping industry, governments and NGO’s mitigate the impacts on reefs due to dredging, tourism, or coastal development. David is a firm believer that tourism can profit from and play an important role in reef preservation via the combination of sound business practices with leading restoration technology and strategies.

Mrs. Helen Lewis - General Manager - Outback Highway Development Council Inc
Monday 7 November 11:20-11:40 - Indigenous Tourism Forum

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.

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Ms. Janet Mackay - Director, TRC Tourism
Wednesday 9 November 09:50-10:15 - Managing and Marketing the Tourism Experience

Getting the Experience right...planning for National Landscapes
The paper will draw on the experience of planning for two National Landscapes - the Flinders Ranges and the Kimberley. It will talk about the process used in each of the landscapes and what makes a good process. It will also talk about the experience each landscape offers and how this has been aligned to the brand.

Biography
Janet Mackay is a Director of TRC Tourism (previously Planning for People) and has worked in many of the national landscapes across Australia. She is a tourism planning consultant that specialises in natural areas and indigenous tourism. Janet is well known for her multi day trail strategies, planning in national parks, and working with indigenous groups. TRC Tourism is a business formed with the merger of Planning for People and the NZ based company Tourism Resource Consultants. Our team works across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Pacific.


Mr. Andrew Marshall - Acting Regional Manager East Region, Parks Victoria
Wednesday 9 November 14:10-14:40 - Managing and Marketing the Tourism Experience

When the isthmus becomes an island - Wilson Promontory National Park and flood impacts
Since September last year more than 70 Victorian parks and reserves have been affected by severe storm and flood events. In a time when parks rangers would otherwise be involved in fire response, it is flood recovery that has kept staff working around the clock.

In February 2009, 50% of Wilsons Promontory National Park was burnt by a wildfire. Now two years on and Victoria’s most loved national park is closed once again after heavy rainfall caused extensive flooding and flood damage throughout the park.

On Tuesday 22 March, the park received continuous heavy rainfall, recording 370mm of rain in a 24 hour period; approximately 1/3 of the parks annual rainfall.

Heavy rains continued into the night with floodwaters peaking at 9.30pm reaching up to 1.5 metres in parts of the Tidal River campground cutting roads, causing major landslips, inundating vehicles and buildings and forcing evacuations to higher ground.

The following morning Darby River Bridge collapsed, thus closing the only road in to and out of Tidal River and the southern part of the park.

The isthmus had become an island; stranding over 380 campers, including 14 school groups, 100 cars, campers and caravans, tour buses and equipment , at multiple campsites and visitor nodes within the park.

The presentation will cover how, over a short period, operations were resumed temporarily for Easter to allow tourism to flourish locally. The park was then reclosed to allow for the massive rebuilding and recovery effort.

We will also cover the unique scenarios and solutions that presented themselves to Parks Victoria, visitors, emergency agencies and the tourism industry regarding the flood event, rescue operation and the recovery process at Wilsons Promontory National Park, including opportunities post floods to review assets, experiences and values.

 

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.