TOURISM NT ABORIGINAL TOURISM UPDATE - KEEPING YOU INFORMED || January 2025

Tourism NT - Different in every sense.

Enhancing Aboriginal tourism opportunities along self drive routes

Tourism NT is partnering with Thrive Territory, Penangke Cultural Consultants and The Aware Advisors to deliver this exciting new initiative. In February and March 2025, the majority Aboriginal led engagement team will be visiting communities, homelands and outstations along two key self-drive touring routes: the Red Centre Way and the Explorers Way. They are visiting to help Aboriginal Territorians understand more about Aboriginal cultural tourism opportunities and the tourism ideas they want to develop.

NEWS

Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective welcomes seven new members

The Discover Aboriginal Experiences portfolio continues to grow, with seven extraordinary new members welcomed into the collective in 2025, taking the total to 55 members – that's a 45 per cent growth in membership since the collective launched.

Conde Nast Traveller recently announced the top 25 places around the world to visit in 2025

Determining the best places to go in 2025 was no easy task. After all, most of Conde Nast Traveller readers suffer from the same desire in wanting to go everywhere, see everything, and be dazzled by the world’s rich and varied contours. The Northern Terrritory's (NT) Top End is featured as one of the top 25 places to visit in 2025.

TRA Tourism forecasts 2024-2029 now available

A new report from Tourism Research Australia indicates Australia's resilient tourism industry will continue to grow over the next 5 years.

Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program

The Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program supports international projects that tell Australian stories, amplify First Nations voices, deepen bilateral partnerships, and build cultural understanding and connections overseas.

INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES

Registrations are open for the Aboriginal Tourism Forum 2025

The Northern Territory Aboriginal Tourism Forum (Forum) is hosted by the Department of Tourism and Hospitality, and supported by the NT Aboriginal Tourism Committee. The Forum will celebrate the NT Aboriginal tourism sector and will focus on opportunities to share knowledge and experiences, and establish and strengthen relationships between Aboriginal entrepreneurs, private sector, industry, government and non-government organisations.

Tourism Towards 2030 Conference

The Tourism Towards 2030 Conference is an opportunity for tourism and hospitality businesses to hear about new insights, national perceptions and will deliver inspiration and practical advice that can be applied to improve and enhance their businesses. This year, the theme is Better Together, a call to action to unite in partnership to create a thriving tourism and hospitality industry in the NT.

Strategic Consulting for Social Impact Initiative 2025

Melbourne Business School is now accepting expressions of interest to participate in the Strategic Consulting for Social Impact This initiative provides participating organisations the opportunity to receive strategic support focused on a discreet project that addresses a specific strategic issue.

Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) Program

The RJED program seeks to fund 3,000 new jobs over three years to support job seekers currently participating in or are eligible for Remote Employment Services, the New Jobs Program Trial, or the CDP Trialling Pathways to Remote Employment to move into employment.

Now Open - Aboriginal Tourism Development in NT Parks and Reserves Grant Program

Tourism NT is providing a non-competitive funding pool of $1,400,000 (excluding GST) to develop Aboriginal cultural tourism experiences and tourism product for NT joint managed parks. A minimum of $30,000 up to a maximum $100,000 (excluding GST) is available to eligible applicants.

Now Open - Aboriginal Tourism Development Support Grant Program Round 3

Tourism NT is providing a total of up to $300,000 (excluding GST) for professional services to support feasibility studies, business planning and to assist in preparing applications to the relevant land council or other land management authority.

Applications can be submitted for a minimum funding value of $10,000 up to $30,000 (excluding GST).

Now Open - Unlocking Aboriginal Tourism Development Funding Round 3

Tourism NT is providing a total of up to $145,000 (excluding GST) in consultancy services to NT majority owned Aboriginal businesses and organisations to help access opportunities and unlock potential Aboriginal tourism development funding.

There are two levels of consultancy services, with level 1 being for advice and level 2 for funding application preparation services.

Now Open - Aboriginal Tourism Grant Program Round 8

Tourism NT is providing a non-competitive funding pool of $1,000,000 (excluding GST) to develop Aboriginal cultural tourism experiences and tourism product that encourages visitors to travel to the NT and stay longer. A minimum of $30,000 up to a maximum $100,000 (excluding GST) is available to eligible applicants

Tour Guide Training Support

Tourism NT is providing funding to assist with building a capable tour guide workforce in the NT. Up to $5,000 excluding GST is available for NT-based tour operators (applicants) who conduct tours in the NT to train new or upskill existing tour guides (entrants) where the applicant can demonstrate the need to do so. The support is designed to streamline training for entrants and offers flexibility.

EVENTS

Ultimate Uluru and intimate Jessica Mauboy concert

Voyages Ayers Rock Resort and Imagine Holidays have announced a once-in-a-lifetime experience featuring an intimate performance by Australian singing sensation, Jessica Mauboy, against the iconic backdrop of Uluru on sale now.

Parrtjima - A Festival of Light

For 10 nights from 4-13 April 2025 under the Red Centre’s starry desert skies for a program filled with light, music, talks and workshops.

For the first time, Parrtjima will feature a special performance by the Darwin Symphony Orchestra during the closing weekend on 12 April 2025. This open-air performance will awe festivalgoers with a dazzling 90-minute music and light spectacle.

Karrimanjbekkan An-me Kakadu

Taste of Kakadu will be back 23 to 25 May 2025 with a sensational program set to immerse Kakadu National Park visitors in a stimulating journey of the senses. Set within a World Heritage-listed national park, Taste of Kakadu is a bush food experience unlike anything else on Earth.

Barunga Festival

The Barunga festival program celebrates the cultural diversity of the region and features a range of activities, including music, dance, sport, traditional art and cultural workshops.

The festival is proud to preserve ancient rites, customs and skills, and engage the broader community to offer a platform for passing on knowledge and experience to the next generation, as well as to the non-Indigenous community.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

North Horizon Heli Adventures

North Horizon Heli Adventures unlocks access to the Top End’s most remote and spectacular locations. Scenic helicopter flights, cultural tours and tailor-made helicopter adventures help you discover the spirit of this vast landscape and its people. You will tick off bucket-list experiences that create lifelong memories..

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JOB OPPORTUNITIES

TOURISM NT WEB

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