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Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

$40 million fund to help grow the Indigenous tourism sector

$40 million fund to help grow the Indigenous tourism sector

Indigenous Affairs Economic Development Indigenous Tourism Fund Grants and Funding
Friday, 19 February 2021

National Indigenous Australians Agency

Indigenous Tourism Fund

Image: Nitmiluk Tours, NT

Details of the $40 million Indigenous Tourism Fund were announced today by Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP.

The Indigenous Tourism Fund was developed in consultation with the Indigenous tourism sector and includes business support and grants for Indigenous owned tourism businesses. Direct assistance for the Indigenous tourism sector includes:

  • The Tourism Grants for Indigenous Business Program which will provide up to $12 million over four years in small grants to help individual businesses and community organisations invest in developing new products, equipment, business planning and marketing in the tourism sector. Grants will be capped at $50,000 for a privately owned business and $100,000 for community organisations. Information on the Tourism Grants for Indigenous Business Program will be available on the Grants Connect website. Applications were originally advertised to close on 22 March 2021 but have been extended until Tuesday 6 April 2021.
  • The Indigenous Tourism Mentoring Program, will be an individualised mentoring program to help businesses gain practical advice from industry experts, develop an industry specific business plan and/or refine business strategies. More details to come on the start date and how to apply for the National Indigenous Tourism Mentoring Program.

The Indigenous Tourism Fund will also be used to invest in activities and initiatives to boost the Indigenous Tourism sector as a whole. Up to $17 million will be co-invested with the states and territories for Strategic Indigenous Tourism Projects that generate supply chain opportunities for Indigenous owned tourism businesses. This investment will be in partership with state and territory governments.

A National Indigenous Tourism Advisory Group will advise the Government on future priorities for the sector and provide an Indigenous voice in the implementation of the Indigenous Tourism Fund. 

The advisory group is chaired by Professor Deen Sanders OAM with Deputy Chair, Ms Helen Martin.

For more information see – Indigenous Tourism Fund

Read the Minister’s full announcement