The World Indigenous Tourism Summit – WITS 2023 was an incredibly rich showcase of our world's First People's cultures and how earth stewardship plays an integral role for our world's indigenous populations.
The two-day Perth Summit celebrated cultural diversity among the 21 international countries represented, with presentations highlighting the effects of climate change on First Peoples and how it has affected their cultural tourism experiences. There was also a significant focus on the importance of understanding the value that indigenous cultural intellectual property brings to unique cultural tourism experiences and creating a sustainable future for our next generations.
GEDC were delighted to participate in the event and partner with WAITOC to support three of our region’s Aboriginal Tourism Operators in being able to attend; Marcus McGuire of 'OldBoy Culture and Gold Prospecting Tours' in Kalgoorlie, Richard Bourne of 'Mudjar Aboriginal Corporation' in Esperance, and Marty Seelander of 'Pakaanu Aboriginal Corporation' in Laverton who commented,
“The opportunity to attend was an eye-opener, especially around the huge new opportunities in Indigenous tourism and amazing connections created with the network of people involved in the industry”.
GEDC Regional Development Officer Nigel Bird noted the focus on acknowledging and valuing Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property and highlighted that Goldfields' Ranger, Yuddiy Brown of DBCA and Warnpuru Aboriginal Corporation Rangers, was celebrated by being awarded 'International Ranger of the Year' by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Image: Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade; Hydrogen Industry; Tourism; Science; Hon Roger Cook MLA and Marcus McGuire of OldBoys Cultural and Gold Tours