THE HON MARTIN FERGUSON AM MP
Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism
SENATOR THE HON MARK ARBIB
Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development
Minister for Sport
Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness
Tourism enterprises in Australia will have the opportunity to learn and improve their business practices thanks to new funding from the Gillard Government.
Minister for Tourism Martin Ferguson and Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development Mark Arbib today announced an expansion of the Gillard Government’s Indigenous Tourism Champions Program.
“This highly successful initiative provides expert assistance to successful Indigenous Australian tourism enterprises and provides access to the lucrative international tourism market,” Minister Ferguson said.
“Research undertaken by Tourism Australia, with the support of the Indigenous Tourism Working Group established under the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy, shows there is significant demand for Indigenous Australian tourism in the international market.”
Senator Arbib said the additional $355,000 from the Gillard Government’s Indigenous Employment program would be used to engage an experienced international tourism operator, Diverse Travel.
“Diverse Travel will develop and implement a tailored business skills and mentoring program for 10 growing Indigenous tourism businesses across Australia,” Senator Arbib said.
“They will support and help develop the businesses to become full members of the Champions Program and become accredited to operate in the international market.
“The program will ensure that Indigenous tourism in Australia continues to grow. Indigenous tourism not only provides visitors to Australia with a unique local perspective, it also employs Indigenous Australians in their local communities.”
Senator Arbib said Treasury predicted 500,000 jobs would be created over the next two years and it was critical that Indigenous Australians had the support and training they needed to take up employment.
“Indigenous employment is not a short-term issue. Over the next four years the Government has also committed almost $650 million to the Indigenous Employment Program,” Senator Arbib said.
“This is part of the Gillard Government’s target to create more than 100,000 jobs for Indigenous Australians by 2018.”