Indigenous Tourism Best Practices
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have cared for Country for over 65,000 years. Engaging respectfully with First Nations cultures creates meaningful experiences for visitors while supporting Indigenous communities and protecting living cultures.
Why Indigenous tourism matters
Indigenous tourism is significant for many reasons:
Unique experiences — Indigenous culture offers experiences found nowhere else on Earth
Truth-telling — tourism can help share Australia's full history
Economic opportunity — Indigenous tourism supports community development
Cultural maintenance — tourism can help keep cultures alive
Reconciliation — meaningful engagement supports reconciliation
Visitor demand — travellers increasingly seek authentic cultural experiences
Understanding your responsibilities
All tourism operators in Australia have responsibilities when it comes to Indigenous culture:
Respect and recognition
Acknowledge Traditional Owners of the lands where you operate
Recognise the ongoing connection of First Nations peoples to Country
Understand that you are operating on Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander land
Avoiding harm
Never use Indigenous cultural material without permission
Don't share sacred or restricted knowledge
Avoid stereotyping or misrepresenting cultures
Don't profit from Indigenous culture without benefit to Indigenous people
Creating benefit
Partner with Indigenous communities
Support Indigenous-owned businesses
Create employment for Indigenous people
Share economic benefits fairly
Acknowledgement of Country
Incorporate Welcome and Acknowledgement:
What's the difference?
Welcome to Country — can only be given by Traditional Owners or their designated representatives
Acknowledgement of Country — can be given by anyone, showing respect for Traditional Owners
When to acknowledge
At the start of tours or experiences
In written materials and communications
On your website and signage
At events and gatherings
How to acknowledge
A genuine Acknowledgement should:
Name the Traditional Owners of the land (research this properly)
Acknowledge their continuing connection to Country
Pay respect to Elders past, present, and emerging
Be delivered sincerely, not as a script
Example: "We acknowledge the [Traditional Owner group] as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather today. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples."
Partnering with Indigenous communities
Finding the right partners
Contact your local Land Council
Reach out to Indigenous tourism operators in your area
Speak with Regional Tourism Organisations
Connect through industry bodies like Indigenous Tourism Australia
Attend Indigenous tourism events and forums
Building genuine relationships
Take time — relationship building can't be rushed
Listen first — understand community priorities before proposing ideas
Be patient — decisions may take time and involve many people
Follow through — do what you say you'll do
Share fairly — ensure benefits flow to community
Partnership models
Different ways to work together:
Referrals — recommend Indigenous experiences to your visitors
Joint experiences — co-create products with Indigenous partners
Employment — hire Indigenous staff
Procurement — buy from Indigenous businesses
Interpretation — have Indigenous partners share stories
Revenue sharing — share proceeds from cultural content
Working with Indigenous guides and staff
Recruitment
Actively recruit from Indigenous communities
Partner with Indigenous employment agencies
Offer traineeships and pathways
Be flexible with requirements where appropriate
Create culturally safe workplaces
Cultural safety
Create an environment where Indigenous staff feel comfortable:
Acknowledge cultural obligations (sorry business, cultural events)
Provide cultural awareness training for all staff
Welcome cultural expression
Address racism and discrimination promptly
Ensure Indigenous staff have support
Cultural authority
Respect the knowledge of Indigenous team members:
Recognise them as cultural authorities
Allow them to guide cultural content
Value traditional knowledge alongside formal qualifications
Compensate fairly for cultural knowledge shared
Using Indigenous content respectfully
Get permission
Before using any Indigenous cultural material:
Identify who holds authority over the content
Seek proper permissions through appropriate channels
Get agreements in writing
Pay for use of cultural content
Check permissions cover your intended use
What requires permission
Stories, songs, and dances
Art, designs, and symbols
Languages and words
Images of people, places, or objects
Traditional knowledge
What to avoid
Generic or stereotyped imagery
Sacred or restricted content
Dot painting styles without permission
Made-up or inaccurate stories
Misrepresenting cultural practices
Supporting Indigenous businesses
Prioritise Indigenous suppliers:
Supply Nation
Register as a buyer with Supply Nation
Search for Indigenous suppliers in your area
Commit to Indigenous procurement targets
Types of Indigenous businesses
Tourism operators — partner or refer
Food producers — native ingredients, bush foods
Artists and craft producers — sell authentic art
Service providers — cleaning, transport, professional services
Cultural consultants — for training and guidance
Ensuring authenticity
Look for certification (e.g., Indigenous Art Code)
Ask about community benefit
Verify Indigenous ownership
Build ongoing relationships
Training and cultural awareness
For all staff
Every team member should understand:
Basic history and culture of Traditional Owners
How to deliver Acknowledgement of Country
Why this matters to your business and visitors
How to answer visitor questions appropriately
How to handle cultural protocols
Finding training
Contact your local Land Council
Ask Indigenous tourism operators
Check with Regional Tourism Organisations
Look for online training options
Bring in Indigenous trainers
Recording your efforts
Track Indigenous engagement in Launchpad:
Go to Tourism for Good
Navigate to Evidence
Add evidence of:
- Indigenous partnerships - Staff training completed - Indigenous employment - Indigenous procurement - Acknowledgement practices
Actions to consider
Create actions for:
Developing Indigenous partnerships
Completing cultural awareness training
Increasing Indigenous employment
Growing Indigenous procurement
Improving acknowledgement practices
Resources
Key organisations
Indigenous Tourism Australia — national Indigenous tourism leadership
State and Territory Land Councils — Traditional Owner representation
Supply Nation — Indigenous business directory
Reconciliation Australia — reconciliation resources and guidance
Indigenous Art Code — authentic Indigenous art certification
Certifications
Consider these certifications:
Respecting Our Culture (ROC) — Ecotourism Australia certification
Indigenous Art Code — for selling authentic art
Reconciliation Action Plan — formal commitment to reconciliation
Engaging respectfully with Indigenous cultures enriches your business and contributes to reconciliation.