Key Outcomes for Tourism
Session Three
Learning from Others
Joc Schmiechen emphasized that the session's focus was on, 'doing this business, why get into it, what are the hurdles, what are the difficulties, what are the rewards and why would you bother with it?'
Hank Horton, owner operator of the first Aboriginal tours in Tasmania, spoke about his experience. In the late 1990s his business was selling wood in an attempt to employ young Aboriginal people and get them off the streets and off drugs. A suggestion was made to move into tourism to generate more income for the youth program. He started to look into what tourism could offer. After some trial workshops, networking and showcasing some of the art produced in the local Indigenous community, he started to run a tour business out of his backyard. A big tour company came on board. This helped the business develop. By 2000 it was running half-day, full-day and overnight tours. By 2002 the business generated enough money to open a gallery, the current location of a centre where visitors can listen to elders' story telling and try some of the local bush tucker. The next questions were 'how do we do this, how do we make some money, keep the people safe, follow the social protocols and reduce our impact on the land?' With some support and advice, a business plan was developed. There were additional duties that come with owning a business, such as insurance, tax, accounts, and advertising. Aboriginal Tourism Australia provided much valuable advice and support by helping with feasibility studies and other strategic plans. His work allowed Hank to feel comfortable with his culture while earning money, unlike his past jobs. 'Tourism', he said, 'gives us the opportunity to be Aboriginal people first and go out on a day to day basis and introduce ourselves as an Aboriginal guide'. It also broke the assumption that there were no Aboriginal people in Tasmania. Today bookings are double what they were in 2002 and the future 'is looking good'.
Robert Sibosado gave a brief history of his community at Lombardina northeast of Broome, which had long-established trading routes by sea and land that changed following contact and the later mission influence. It was in the nineteen seventies and eighties that the community started to think about regaining its independence and 'running our own shows'. In 1992 it started its tourism business, with 'three rooms backpacker style', a troop carrier and selling packages in Melbourne to ten people at a time. It purchased a boat in 1994 to do charter fishing and scenic tours. The purpose was to gain income for the community and maintain its lifestyle as much as possible. The focus is now on the community's lifestyle, as it exists today. Robert enjoys sharing his life and experience with visitors, learning from them and keeping in touch with his country. His advice for anyone looking into tourism is 'don't lose your lifestyle'.