WWF-Australia is engaged in a new project aimed at increasing the number of Traditional Owners working in, and benefitting from, the booming multi-million dollar tourism industry in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
The project is a joint initiative of WWF-Australia, the Kimberley Land Council (KLC) and The Leading Travel Companies Conservation Foundation (TLTC). It hopes to engage Traditional Land Owners, tourism operators and industry groups in managing coastal tourism in the Kimberley in a more sustainable and culturally sensitive manner. It also aims to promote sustainable tourism among existing operators, through the development of best practice protocols for environmental and cultural tourism.
“With the Kimberley rapidly becoming a global tourism hot-spot, it is critical to put in place effective measures to safeguard the region,” said Paul Gamblin, WWF’s Program Leader (West). “This project represents an ongoing commitment by WWF to work with the Indigenous people of the Kimberley, towards sustainable economic development."
Situated in the remote north-western corner of Australia, The Kimberley covers an area of nearly 423,000 square kilometres in size and has an estimated population of just 38,000. Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries in the region, with visitor numbers increasing over the last decade.
“We are very pleased to see so many good partners coming on board with the Kimberley Land Council, and working co-operatively to help us build a healthy and sustainable tourism industry,” said Mr Davey, Deputy Chairman of the KLC. “A number of Traditional Land Owners are already operating tourism ventures in the Kimberley and many more are looking to become involved in tourism and interacting with visitors to their country. This project will help Traditional Land Owners begin a process of assisting tourists to respect our country when they visit.”
The Leading Travel Companies Conservation Foundation spokesperson Les Cox said the foundation was committed to ensuring both Indigenous culture and the environment were protected.
“By partnering with WWF and the KLC, we can work towards a future of sustainable tourism that revolves around the Traditional Land Owners of the Kimberley,” said Mr Cox. “Eensuring this amazing region is preserved and its inhabitants are respected and well positioned, will draw long term benefits from the tourism growth we are witnessing in the region.”