This week marks NAIDOC week, a time to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
To mark the special occasion, and shine a light on the importance of ongoing support for Indigenous tourism experiences, tour leaders AAT Kings Group yesterday hosted its own NAIDOC week event inviting Indigenous tourism advocates to speak with its team. The event was hosted by AAT Kings Group CEO Ben Hall, and held at the company’s HQ in Alexandria, then shared with the broader team across the country.
Dunghutti -Djirrinjah Elder and Aboriginal tourism icon Aunty Margret Campbell and Tourism Australia’s Head of Indigenous Affairs, Phil Lockyer joined the AAT Kings Group for a Q&A session highlighting the need for ongoing support for and growth in the Indigenous tourism product sector within Australia.
After a welcome to country from Aunty Margret, she shared her journey into tourism and spoke about her passion in sharing Aboriginal voices and the platform which tourism has given her to do so, leading her to be a pioneer in Indigenous tourism across the country.
A Noongar man, Phil Lockyer also shared his story and background in working in corporate Indigenous affairs before moving into the newly created role of Head of Indigenous Affairs with Tourism Australia in February 2021. He spoke with the group on how this new position has provided him with the opportunity to tell Indigenous stories differently, and help drive growth in the diversity of Aboriginal tourism experiences.
Featured Image: Phil Lockyer, Aunty Margret and Ben Hall (AAT Kings)
