ABORIGINAL TOURISM
AUSTRALIA
- Aboriginal
Tourism Australia invited Planeta.com's Ron Mader to participate
in the annual Business
Development Symposium for Indigenous Tourism Operators. Ron
also attended the 2007 Corroboree Indigenous Tourism Expo at the
Sydney Opera House. Photos are online.
The 2007 ATA Business Development Symposium (BDS), held between
the 6 and 9 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.
Since launching in 2002, this strategic forum provides Indigenous
tourism operators with practical information and skills to strengthen
and improve their business operations, achieve long-term business
sustainability and meet international travel industry standards.
"There is an obvious gap in the ability of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander businesses, individuals and communities to access
information and practical tools to assist them with industry development
at the initial start up or for professional development of existing
businesses," said Aboriginal Tourism Australia Chairperson
Lois Peeler. "The Business Development Symposium is designed
to provide information to enable individuals considering operating
a business in the tourism industry to make an informed decision
or to provide information and tools to enhance the quality and efficiency
of business practices."
In assessing the event, one delegates, Sarah Martin, a co-director
of Koori Communication and Training, said it was the best conference
she had attended. "The ATA Business Development Symposium not
only showed our mob from Guriwal what was possible but also how
to achieve it. It provided the necessary tools," said Sarah
Martin.
Planeta.com's Ron Mader presented two talks at the symposium:
Taking
your product to the world - The Web is the first calling
card for travelers seeking responsible travel across the world.
Operators are learning the marketing advantages of being web-savvy
and pitching services to a global market. (photos)
Lessons
from Mexico - Oaxaca is one of the most ethnically
and biologically diverse parts of Mexico. Planeta.com founder Ron
Mader will share some lessons learned collaborating with indigenous
artisans marketing their crafts and local tours. Ron will report
on the 2007
Rural Tourism Fair and compare capacity building efforts and
marketing in Mexico with that in Australia. (photos)
ATA has posted presentations from the Symposium
and Corroboree
and the PDF version of its brochure Incredible
Journeys.
WEB WORKSHOP
With the support of Wildlife
Tourism Australia, Ron offered an accelerated one-day version
of our Web Seminar in Beenleigh. (Photo)
AUSTRALIA TRAVEL SURVEY
Planeta continues to host the Australia Travel Survey to assess
what travelers want from a trip. Australians and visitors alike
are asked their interests.
UPDATES
Among the Planeta.com features to be updated in 2007 is a travelers'
guide to Aboriginal
Australia.
Also, in connection with our focus on urban
ecotourism, Planeta.com lauched CJ-friendly
city guides to Adelaide, Brisbane, Byron Bay, Cairns, Canberra,
Darwin, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
ABOUT PLANETA.COM
Planeta.com is an award-winning website that presents articles
and discussion about the environment and travel. The site debuted
in 1994. Travelers will find tips on choosing eco-friendly and people-friendly
trips and professionals will find a number of helpful resources,
including the Exploring
Ecotourism Resource Guide.
ABOUT ABORIGINAL TOURISM AUSTRALIA
Aboriginal
Tourism Australia is the primary national organization for Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander tourism within Australia. Comprised of
Indigenous tourism operators, ATA focuses on professional development
among its members so that operators are prepared as market-ready
businesses.
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