Planeta Forum

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Aboriginal Tourism Australia presents an annual Business Development Symposium and Expo for Indigenous Tourism Operators in Australia.

The fifth symposium and second expo takes place February 6-9, 2007 in Sydney. The expo will take place at the Sydney Opera House. Free admission.

OBJECTIVE - The aim is to provide information on operational management issues that will enhance sustainable environmental and business practice whilst honouring Indigneous knowledge and cultural values.

Organizers and participants of the event are invited to introduce themselves in this topic.

REFERENCE

Aboriginal Tourism Australia
http://www.aboriginaltourism.com.au

[ATA]

My name is Lois Peeler and I am Chairperson of Aboriginal Tourism Australia (ATA), I am from the Yorta Yorta Aboriginal tribe whose traditional lands include the sacred Dhungala (Murray River) and Australia's largest river red gum forest. ATA is the national organisation for Aboriginal tourism. Our members include Indigenous tourism operators and communities across Australia. ATA is a not for profit and a non government organisation. The contextual framework within which ATA operates is based upon the following guiding principles:

The link between Indigenous peoples culture, spirituality and ownership of our heritage

The need for a new partnership which recognises the Indigenous contribution to Australia's identity

The importance of enterprise development fitting with Indigenous cultural, social, community, spiritual systems and values.

The annual Business Development Symposium is a key ATA industry development initiative. We'll post updates on this topic

[ATA]

2006 EVENT REVIEW - One hundred delegates from across Australia attended the ATA Business Development Symposium held in Cairns, Tropical North Queensland. The Symposium was conducted over 4 days and included topics to enhance business operations of Indigenous tourism businesses. Topics were presented by guest speakers with expertise in the areas they were presenting in. Delegates had the opportunity to select workshops from three streams where topics ranged from protecting Indigenous authenticity and cultural property, business management, Guiding and minimal impacts. One-on-one consultations were available for delegates seeking more detailed information from presenters. As well as the industry development benefits, one of the key outcomes was the networking which took place with operators from across the country, with all operators having the opportunity to share their story to the forum. Participants were awarded a Certificate 1 in Tourism. The next ATA Business Development Symposium will be held in Sydney Australia and will culminate in the 2007 Corroboree Indigenous tourism Expo at the Sydney Opera House.

[ATA]

2007 PREVIEW - The Corroboree (expo) at the Opera House begins with acknowledgement of Indigenous protocols and cultural activities. Throughout this one day event the Expo venue is filled with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, cultural activities, children’s activities, traditional and contemporary music and dance. Direct interaction will enable Indigenous Tour Operators to market to travel industry professionals and consumers who are looking for travel and holiday options that offer amazing, authentic cultural experiences.

[ATA]

Planeta's Ron Mader will be a Keynote Speaker at the 2007 Aboriginal Tourism Australia Business Development Symposium for Indigenous Tourism Operators to be conducted at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management in Sydney's North West, from Tuesday 6 February – Thursday 8 February 2007. Conducted annually, the Business Development Symposium is a professional development tool that aims to provide Indigenous tourism operations with practical information and skills to enhance business operations and achieve long-term business sustainability through continuous improvement. The Symposium will culminate in the 2007 Corroboree Indigenous Tourism Expo at the Sydney Opera House on Friday 9th February. The Expo highlights the breadth and diversity of available Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism product and provides Indigenous Tourism Operators the opportunity to gain experience in presenting their product in a trade environment and to market to tourism industry professionals and consumers.

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Photos from the 2007 Corroboree and ATA Business Development Symposium are now online
http://www.flickr.com/photos/planeta/sets/72157594528655076

Captions still need to be edited! Please send corrections/suggestions to my private email

Ron

[ATA]

The 2007 ATA Business Development Symposium (BDS), held between the 6th and 9th February in conjunction with the Corroboree Indigenous Tourism Expo at Sydney, provided valuable outcomes for all those Indigenous tourism operators that participated in the four-day residential conference.

A range of guest speakers presented the Symposium. Topics presented by ATA Guest Speaker Planeta Editor Ron Mader ‘Taking your Tourism Product to the World’ and Futurist Dr Ian Lin whose presentation focused on using Cyberspace technologies for marketing and communications provided Indigenous Tourism operators with an opportunity to contact hundreds of millions of potential customers at little cost and risk. Other presentations of interest included Building Indigenous Tourism in a Competitive Environment, the Trade Practices Act, Business Support, Micro Finance, Indigenous Art - Commercial Code of Conduct, Minimising Impacts of Tourism on Country, Culture and Community, Connecting with the Wholesaler, Public Relations and Media, Developing a Successful Communication Strategy, Minimum Requirements of Book Keeping and Record Keeping for Small Business (to name a few.) Streams for tour guides and the creative arts were also provided at the Symposium. This year’s Symposium saw eligible businesses and/or tour operators at various stages of development receive certificates in Tourism or a credit towards a tourism qualification through the William Angliss Institute of TAFE.

[ATA]

The second major Corroboree Indigenous Tourism Expo proved to be a resounding success at The Sydney Opera House on February 9, 2007. Celebrating Australia’s Indigenous cultures on the traditional land of the Gadigal people, this unique one-day event presented the vibrantly rich diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism operators from across the country to consumers and travel industry professionals.

In addition to the acknowledgement of Indigenous protocols the wide range of interactive activities held throughout the day included a rare exhibition of fine art hosted by Hogarth Galleries. The Specialist Indigenous Community Art Exhibition was opened by Aboriginal curator Djon Mundine. Around 150 guests attended the exhibition where talented Aboriginal guest artist Lisa Michl (Ko-Manggen) revealed the intriguing stories behind her art. The quality of art presented at the exhibition was further testament to the worldwide acclaim and recognition that Australian Aboriginal art is noted for. The award for the Best Exhibitor at Corroboree went to Yorke Island in the Torres Strait, with the criteria for the Best Exhibitor not only including aesthetics but also how the individual presented information, promotional materials and communicated their knowledge, as well as the quality of their customer service.

[ATA]

The 2007 Corroboree at the Opera House saw the launch of Incredible Journeys: Across Indigenous Australia by Aden Ridgeway, the Chair of Tourism Australia's Indigenous Tourism Australia industry advisory group. Incredible Journeys is a 32 page publication based on ATA’s broad membership, which highlights the businesses that are certified under the Respecting Our Culture (ROC) Indigenous certification program or who are currently working their way through the ROC program. The ROC Program is endorsed as a national tourism accreditation program; ensuring businesses that meet with ROC Program criteria also meet national quality tourism business standards whilst observing Indigenous cultural protocols and environmental minimal impact.

[ATA]

Incredible Journeys - Across Indigenous Australia is a 32 page brochure which details members of Aboriginal Tourism Australia and highlights Indigenous cultural tourism experiences available across Australia. Published in February 2007 and distributed at the Coroboree at the Sydney Opera House, the brochure identifies businesses that are certified under the Respecting Our Culture tourism certification program.

http://www.aboriginaltourism.com.au/downloads/Incredible%20Journeys%20PDF.pdf

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