Indigenous Tourism Collective Reaches New Heights With Seven Strong New Additions Following 56% Demand Surge

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The Discover Aboriginal Experiences portfolio is expanding in response to the surging demand for Indigenous tourism.

In 2025, seven new members will join the collective, increasing the total number of participating operators to 55. Since its inception, the portfolio has seen a 45% increase in membership, a growth that aligns with the findings of the latest Tourism Research Australia report, which highlights the rising interest in Indigenous tourism across the nation.

The report shows a 56% increase in international visitors taking part in Aboriginal-led tours in 2024, compared to the previous year.

Acknowledging this growing demand, the Federal Government is actively supporting the expansion of Indigenous experiences, particularly those involving First Nations people and their ancestral lands. As part of its efforts to attract more visitors from China, Australia’s largest tourism market, the government has allocated funding from the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.

One of the recipients of these grants is the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC), which plans to use the funding to launch its new “Ancient Cultures Meet” tourism initiative.

The ongoing growth of the DAE collective mirrors the increasing interest in Aboriginal-guided tours among international travelers, according to Tourism Australia’s managing director, Phillipa Harrison.

The program will welcome seven new members, including Yura Tours (QLD), Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tours (QLD), Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre (QLD), In Culture Tours (WA), Southern Cross Cultural Tours at Lullumb (WA), El Questro – Injiid Marlabu Calls Us (WA), and Tiwi Tours (NT).