Kimberley Centre for Indigenous and Community Economic Development

The Kimberley Centre for Indigenous and Community Economic Development enables local people to perform their own economic analyses, determine their own goals, and implement their own ideas. Our staff provides training with techniques, concepts, and tools, but local people carry out the project: it is done by them, not to them. The result is ownership of the project and ongoing sustainability

<h2>Background</h2>
Many opportunities are emerging for Aboriginal people to be involved in tourism.
The most recent research for the Kimberley shows that in calendar year 2002 there were 279,000 domestic visitors and they stayed an average of 8 nights and spent 238 million dollars1.<p>
* 195300 of these people have an income greater than $36400.<p>
* 82,984 flew into Broome Airport in 2001/20022<p>
* 78,120 people either caravan or camp while in the Kimberley.<p>
<h2>Benefits to customers and the region.</h2>
The development of a local Aboriginal tourism industry has benefits for both the region's economy and the development of the local Aboriginal people on an economic, social and cultural level. New employment opportunities have been developed and are continuing to evolve in areas from guiding through to the establishment of incorporated Aboriginal organisations running their own small businesses to the creation and marketing of art. There are clear advantages for locally owned and operated Aboriginal tourism ventures run on country with the money going directly to the participants.<p>
<h2>Dampier Peninsula</h2>
In the late 2001, independent marketing consultants Ray Bird and Associates carried out a survey of visitor numbers to the Dampier Peninsula3. They concluded that conservatively 21,000 fully independent travellers made there way to this area during the calendar year.<p>
Using this baseline data and assuming growth of 5% per annum, it is projected that the number of independent travellers visiting the Dampier Peninsula could grow to more than 28,000 by 2007. This figure should be viewed as the lower end of future growth potential. Given the major road providing access to the Dampier Peninsula (the Cape Leveque Road) is currently undergoing a substantial upgrade; the number of visitors to the area is in fact likely to be much higher.<p>
Visitors to the Dampier Peninsula seek out holiday or recreation destinations that provide open space, contact with both coastal and land based environment, and the opportunity to share or learn about local indigenous lifestyle and culture. Many qualitative studies suggest substantial and growing unfulfilled demand for quality visitor experiences involving Aboriginal communities. The federal government's recent tourism white paper backs up these studies.<p>
We believe that through the facilitation and development of a range of accommodation types and visitor experiences throughout the Peninsula the area can be promoted as an attractive and rewarding destination. All parties have identified the need to establish necessary community infrastructure at strategic locations on the Peninsula, as a key to achieving this objective.<p>

<h2>The bottom Line</h2>

A community with 10 camping sites (2 people per site) at $10 per person per night for 20 weeks of the busy season can generate $28,000 in camping fees before expenses.<p>
Then there is the value adding of say two land based fishing tours per week by five people by $50 per person brings in another $10000 in income.<p>
Suddenly, a community outstation that was entirely dependant on welfare is generating $38,000 per annum which is the equivalent of four CDEP places.
If the outstation community consists of 10 members on CDEP this represents roughly a 38% increase in income and many other social and cultural benefits that flow from the increased level of independence.<p>

Many government reports specifically detail the opportunities for Aboriginal people including:<p>
<i>A Talent for Tourism, 1994, Stories about Indigenous People in Tourism</i>, Commonwealth Department of Tourism, Australian Government Publishing Services.

<I>Australian Tourist Commission, 1998, Fact Sheets: ATC activities and funding Tourism's impact on the economy, jobs and taxes inbound visitor statistics</i>, Australian Tourist Commission, Corporate Affairs.

<i>Face the Facts, 2003, Some Questions and Answers about Refugees, Migrants and Indigenous People</i>, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Sydney.

<i>Financial Management Guide, 2002, The Business of Indigenous Tourism</i>, Aboriginal Tourism Australia and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources.

<i>Going Places, May 2003, Issues Paper, Developing natural and cultural heritage tourism in Australia</i>, National Tourism and Heritage Taskforce for the Environment Protection and Heritage Council.

<I>Going Places, May 2003, Key Opportunities, Developing natural and cultural heritage tourism in Australia</i>, National Tourism and Heritage Taskforce for the Environment Protection and Heritage Council.

<i>Mayi Aboriginal Cultural Tours, (nd), A Journey Trough Time</i>, Kimberley Western Australia.

<i>National Ecotourism Strategy, 1994</i>, Commonwealth Department of Tourism, Australian Government Publishing Services.

<I>Nature based Tourism Strategy for Western Australia</I>, September 1997, Report prepared by the Nature Based Tourism Advisory Committee, Government of Western Australia, Western Australian Tourism Commission, Department of Conservation and Land Management.

<I>Segments Insights Pack, March 2003, Market Research Intelligence on Aboriginal Tourism</I>, Prepared by Market Insights Unit, Australian Tourist Commission.

<I>Strong Business-Strong Culture-Strong Country</I>, (nd), Managing Tourism on Aboriginal Communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and Northern Territory Tourist Commission.

<I>The Aboriginal Component of the Kimberley Economy</I>, August 2001, Government of Western Australia and Kimberley Development Commission.

<I>The Eco Ethics of Tourism Development</I>, September 1989, Prepared for the Western Australian Tourism Commission and Environmental Protection Authority.

<I>Tourism White Paper, 2003, A Medium to Long Term Strategy for Tourism, The Future View of Australian Tourism</I>, Australian Government.

<b>Footnotes</b>

1 <I>Western Australian Tourism Commission Research Review</I> 1088/130/199012

2 Department of Transport and Regional Services (AVSTATS)

3<I>The Dampier Peninsula Tourism Marketing Strategy: Peninsula Aboriginal Tourism Beyond Broome</I>. Ray Bird and Associates 2000