The Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC) was set up in 2002 to create a thriving, authentic Aboriginal tourism industry in WA, raise the profile of First Nations tourism at the state, national and international levels, and help establish First Nations tourism as integral to Australia’s tourism industry.
In the lead up to the 2022 federal election, WAITOC submitted a proposal for the expansion of Aboriginal Tourism nationally as a means for economic development and employment for Indigenous Australians. The submission contained five investment items, in priority order:
In 2021-22, WAITOC secured a new, four-year funding agreement worth $4.32 million from Tourism Western Australia to deliver the Jina – Western Australia Aboriginal Tourism Action Plan 2021-2025. This funding originated from the national Aboriginal Tourism Fund, adding to the existing base funding agreed upon between Tourism WA and WAITOC worth $3.6 million. WAITOC is now operating with the most significant budget in its history with a total of $7.9 million over four years.
The Jina Plan aims to position WA as the premier First Nations tourism destination, build capacity in the tourism sector for First Nations people to enter, and facilitate the development of authentic First Nations cultural experiences.
Tourism WA
Government Department
Tourism Council Western Australia
Industry
Land Councils
Representative Body
