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27 May, 2021

Intrepid wants Aussies to book a First Nations tourism experience … just not with them

Aboriginal elder places eucalyptus leaves on fire for smoking ceremony to start Mardi Grass parade in Nimbin,Australia.A smoking ceremony is a traditional Aboriginal practise which is used to cleanse the area of bad spirits and ensure the success of the parade.

By Alexandra Coulton

Intrepid Travel and Welcome to Country have partnered for National Reconciliation Week (NRW) to encourage Australians to book a First Nations tourism experience.

This year, the theme for National Reconciliation Week (27 May to 3 June) is ‘More than a word’.

Reconciliation takes action.

By directing its customers to Welcome to Country, Intrepid Travel aims to encourage Aussies to take action and discover the incredible depth of First Nations stories, cultures and languages in their own backyard.

Welcome to Country is a not-for-profit organisation that empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to create economic and wellbeing outcomes.

It curates, promotes and sells more than 140 First Nations tourism experiences all around Australia via its marketplace – the first of its kind.

Many of Welcome to Country’s experiences are within easy reach of major Australian cities, making it easy and possible for Australians to take action by booking and getting out there.

“The key to achieving substantive reconciliation is connecting with, hearing the stories of, and building relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” Jason Eades, CEO of Welcome to Country, said.

“A great way to start your personal journey is to experience country with First Nations guide. You will never see the place you live in the same way again.”

Intrepid Travel’s chief people and purpose officer, Natalie Kidd, said: “We’re all travelling closer to home at the moment and wherever you travel in Australia, you’re on Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander country.

“This NRW, we would love to see Australians taking action towards reconciliation by supporting First Nations tourism operators and celebrating the world’s oldest continuing culture.

“This is Australia’s most unique drawcard, and international tourists travel right across the world to be able to experience it. Now it is time for Australians to get behind their own First Nations experiences.”

In other Intrepid news, the wholesaler has launched a strategic partnership with Tourism & Events Queensland (TEQ) and Tourism Australia in an effort to encourage Aussie travellers to holiday here this year and explore their own backyard.

The partnership encourages travellers to come and immerse themselves in unique Queensland tourism experiences right across the state.

“Although international travel is unavailable for the foreseeable future in Australia, in the meantime there is so much to see and do right here in our own country,” Sarah Clark, managing director for the Asia Pacific at Intrepid Group, said.

“Queensland is ready and open to visitors and we are thrilled to be partnering with TEQ to help raise awareness and spread the message to our Australian travellers.”

TEQ chief executive Leanne Coddington said this partnership aligned well with Intrepid’s focus on sustainable and responsible travel.

“Queensland’s evolving brand taps into people’s desire to connect with Queensland’s incredible natural assets, and this partnership allows us to speak directly to Intrepid’s highly engaged audiences and further amplify our highly successful ‘Good to Go’ campaign,” she said.

“This means we can be even more targeted in our marketing activity and encourage more travellers to book a holiday to Queensland.

“As part of this campaign, we will be highlighting our incredible natural assets, including Queensland’s greatest natural wonder, the Great Barrier Reef; the world’s largest sand island, Fraser Island; the picture-perfect Whitsunday Islands; the oldest living rainforest in the Daintree; and the enriching Indigenous experiences on offer across the state.”

In conjunction with the partnership, Intrepid will be releasing seven new Queensland tours.

The wholesaler will also be offering 10 per cent off its entire Queensland range for all new bookings made by 30 June 2021 with travel dates departing up to 30 June 2022.

Featured image source: iStock/PDerrett

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

aboriginal First Nations Indigenous Australian intrepid travel National Reconciliation Week tourism Welcome to Country