Australia’s Connecting to Culture Toolkit Guides Tourism Businesses to Respect First Nations Culture and Elevate Visitor Experiences: Know More

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Australian tourism businesses are being offered new practical support to build respectful connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partners and communities through the rollout of the Connecting to Culture Toolkit, a government‑backed resource designed to guide non‑First Nations‑owned tourism operators toward meaningful and culturally appropriate engagement. This initiative aligns with broader efforts to enhance the visitor experience and deepen cultural inclusivity within the nation’s travel and tourism industry.

Supporting Respectful Engagement in Tourism

The Connecting to Culture Toolkit, fully titled A toolkit guiding respectful engagement with First Nations People, has been introduced as part of the Australian Tourism Industry Council’s (ATIC) Quality Tourism Framework (QTF). The QTF is an online suite of training, accreditation, and practical resources that is supported by the Australian Government through an eight‑million‑dollar grant to help tourism businesses improve quality, accessibility, sustainability, and inclusiveness.

Designed to prompt self‑learning, the toolkit offers tourism operators a framework for evaluating their current engagement with First Nations culture and communities, whether they are just starting out or seeking to strengthen existing practices. It begins with introductory content to help businesses understand acknowledgements of country and identify the Traditional Owners in their regions. For more advanced users, it provides guidance on navigating complex topics such as Native Title and Indigenous cultural and intellectual property.

Development Guided by First Nations Leaders

The toolkit was developed with direct input from a ‘reference group’ of First Nations representatives from across Australia convened by ATIC. This consultative process ensured that the resource accurately reflects the perspectives and cultural values of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, offering tourism operators curated guidance that honours First Nations traditions and knowledge.

By helping businesses learn how to engage respectfully, the Connecting to Culture Toolkit supports the integration of First Nations culture into tourism offerings in ways that avoid tokenism and foster genuine partnerships. Through clearly defined steps and pathways, operators are encouraged to build relationships based on respect, cultural safety, and long‑term collaboration.

Responding to Growing Demand for First Nations Experiences

The importance of this initiative is underscored by robust demand for First Nations tourism experiences across Australia. According to Tourism Research Australia, the number of trips involving First Nations experiences more than doubled from 2013–14 to 2023–24, with a record three million such trips recorded in 2023–24. This trend reflects growing visitor interest in culturally immersive and authentic experiences that highlight Indigenous heritage.

With this rising interest, tourism businesses are seeking tools that help them widen and deepen their First Nations offerings in ways that are respectful, culturally informed, and beneficial for both visitors and host communities. The toolkit serves this purpose by offering tourism operators insights into gap areas, practical next steps, and access to a curated directory of resources that are endorsed by communities.

Practical Application for Tourism Businesses

The toolkit has already helped several tourism operators reflect on and improve their cultural engagement practices. In Queensland, the Lazy Lizard Motor Inn in Port Douglas used the resource in 2026 to address gaps in its approach to First Nations culture. Prior to engaging with the toolkit, the motel did not have an Acknowledgement of Country on its website. Through guided self‑assessment, the business identified areas for improvement, including sourcing First Nations‑produced products and broadening the range of First Nations‑led experiences recommended to guests.

Similarly, in South Australia’s Langhorne Creek region, the Langhorne Creek Grape and Wine association utilised the toolkit to assess its cultural knowledge as the community prepared to develop a new Discovery Trail. Already engaged with local First Nations organisations, the association found that the toolkit’s self‑assessment and tailored resources offered value in identifying gaps and inspiring deeper engagement as the community incorporated local Indigenous stories into its tourism infrastructure.

Toolkit Features and Benefits

The Connecting to Culture Toolkit operates through an online questionnaire that allows businesses to assess their current engagement with First Nations culture and communities. There is no score or pass requirement; instead, the focus is on honest reflection and growth. Based on responses, users receive tailored guidance and links to culturally appropriate resources, including community‑endorsed organisations and consultants.

By accessing this toolkit, tourism operators can gain a better understanding of cultural protocols, build meaningful partnerships, strengthen visitor offerings, and enhance their reputations as culturally respectful and inclusive businesses. The toolkit is particularly valuable for operators who are new to First Nations engagement or who want to take deliberate steps toward embedding cultural respect deeply into their business practices.

Alignment with National Tourism Strategy

The rollout of the toolkit supports Australia’s national visitor economy strategy, THRIVE 2030, which emphasises respectful inclusion of First Nations peoples and cultures as part of sustainable tourism growth across the country. THRIVE 2030 seeks to diversify experiences and markets while embedding principles that promote cultural respect, accessibility, and community collaboration within the visitor economy.

By aligning with THRIVE 2030 priorities, the Connecting to Culture Toolkit reinforces a broader industry movement toward more thoughtful and inclusive tourism practices that recognise the lasting cultural, social, and economic significance of First Nations heritage.

Looking Ahead for the Tourism Industry

The Connecting to Culture Toolkit stands as a timely and practical resource for Australia’s tourism sector as it continues to evolve and respond to changing visitor expectations and cultural sensitivities. By fostering respectful engagement with First Nations communities, the toolkit helps ensure that tourism growth benefits local cultures, deepens visitor understanding, and contributes to a more inclusive and sustainable industry landscape.