How NT businesses can access $1M under the Aboriginal Tourism Grant Program

Only half of the visitors arriving in the Territory for an Indigenous cultural experience ever end up booking a tour. Here’s how a $1m grant program is hoping to boost our local tourism businesses.

A $1m funding pool has been opened for First Nations Territorians seeking to share their people’s culture, language, art and stories with the world.

The next round of the Aboriginal Tourism Grant Program was released on Monday, with Indigenous-owned businesses able to access between $30,000 to $100,000 for new or upgraded infrastructure, or new tourism products.

Tourism Minister Joel Bowden said the $1m grant program would allow Aboriginal owned organisations and businesses to invest in culturally-centred tourism experiences, like on-Country accommodation, cultural tours or bush tucker experiences.

Tourism Minister Joel Bowden said the $1m grant program would allow Aboriginal owned organisations and businesses to invest in culturally-centred tourism experiences. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

This comes three years after the Northern Territory Aboriginal Tourism Strategy 2020 - 2030 identified the disconnect between the number of visitors coming to the NT for an Aboriginal tourism experience and the reality of services.

Mr Bowden said the Territory’s rich First Nation’s history was a major drawcard for tourists, with 80 per cent of NT visitors saying they wanted to take part in an Aboriginal tourism experience.

But the report found only 40 per cent of visitors actually booked an activity with an Aboriginal tourism provider.

Mr Bowden said the Territory’s rich First Nation’s history was a major drawcard for tourists, with 80 per cent of NT visitors saying they wanted to take part in an Aboriginal tourism experience. Picture: Tourism Australia

The strategy found the supply of Aboriginal tourism products and experiences was not meeting the demand, due in part to capacity constraints, cost, time, accessibility and distance barriers.

Mr Bowden said over the past six rounds of funding 52 Indigenous-owned businesses were awarded $2.3m in funding, including Milingimbi’s Rulku Enterprises, which used the money to build ensuites to five rooms to encourage longer visitor stays.

NT Tourism Minister Joel Bowden said the latest funding round would only further bolster investment to the Territory’s $383m Aboriginal tourism industry. Photo: Kakadu Billabong Safari Camp © Tourism NT / Helen Orr

Mr Bowden said the latest funding round would only further bolster investment to the Territory’s $383m Aboriginal tourism industry.

“(This) is about stimulating and strengthening Aboriginal Territorians’ participation in Australia’s tourism industry and delivering strong economic outcomes for the Northern Territory.”