Brisbane Airport want to use indigenous greeting to welcome visitors

Brisbane Airport is in discussions with the three southeast Queensland traditional owner groups about welcoming visitors with an indigenous greeting.

FUTURE visitors to Brisbane will be welcomed with the word “Yura!” under a plan to use the local indigenous greeting.

Brisbane Airport Corporation is in discussions with the Turrbal, Jaggera and Quandamooka people — the three traditional owner groups in the Greater Brisbane and Moreton Bay area about the idea.

The word is used by all three and Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Cameron Costello said he would love to see it adopted by the airport, hotels and other businesses that dealt with tourists.

“If you go to Fiji or Hawaii, people use the local word to greet you — bula! or aloha! In New Zealand, its Kia ora!

“If everyone arriving in Brisbane was greeted with yura! That would be great.

“Having First Nations people on the front counters of hotels, or speaking in local languages would be amazing.”

Brisbane Airport could use the indigenous word “Yura” to welcome visitors. Picture: Claudia Baxter

Mr Costello, who heads a statewide indigenous tourism strategy development group, said the languages of local traditional owners could be used in different areas right across Queensland, he said.

“People talk about having one language but why would you want that. The variety is part of the appeal.

“You go to Europe and France, Germany, Spain or wherever have their own languages and cultures. That’s the attraction to tourists.”

Tamara Pearson from the Sacred Creations dance group in Far North Queensland agreed. “It would be great to see more and more acknowledgment of culture and country at airports and places where tourists go.

“We want to show people the language and culture is alive and well while introducing contemporary elements.”

Tamara Pearson with son Nakoa Alfie Frederickson. Picture: Brian Cassey

Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation and the SeaLink ferries group have joined to launch the country’s first aboriginal-led whale-watching tours in Moreton Bay from July 6.

The vessel, carrying up to 120 passengers, will leave from South Bank in Brisbane twice a week and from Raby Bay, Redlands, twice a week.

Mr Costello, says they are also keen to see indigenous artwork used in public and private settings to become woven through the state.

“I see so many buildings being developed and think ‘imagine if we had indigenous artwork in there. Over time, the landscape of this city and state would evolve so is an experience and something unique. I don’t know another city that’s taken that and built the traditional owners and their stories throughout the fabric of the city.