Big Red offers boost to First Nations tourism

By PETER ROWE

Big Red Group, Australia and New Zealand’s biggest experience tourism network, has partnered with not-for-profit Welcome to Country to increase access to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experiences and support First Nations operators.

Launched in conjunction with the tenth annual ‘Indigenous Business Month’, the partnership aims to better connect domestic and international visitors with authentic cultural experiences, with 48 Aboriginal experiences now available to book through the RedBalloon website with more to come.

“This partnership is an exciting opportunity to showcase the rich cultural heritage of First Nations people,” Desmond Campbell, CEO of Welcome to Country, said.

“We are excited to collaborate with Big Red Group, so we can extend our audience and provide more people with the chance to engage with our stories and traditions.

“Supporting First Nations businesses means you’re supporting keeping the world’s oldest continued cultures and languages alive.”

The unique collection of experiences – including guided tours, storytelling sessions, and hands-on workshops highlighting traditional art forms – will not only enable visitors to immerse themselves in Australia’s First Nations culture, but also support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses to grow through e-commerce.

Research shows that about 80 per cent of international visitors to Australia would like an Aboriginal tourism experience on their holiday.

But only 20 per cent make bookings with First Nations operators.

“We’re delighted to kick-off Indigenous Business Month by announcing our partnership with Welcome to Country. David Anderson, co-founder and CEO of Big Red Group, said.

Offering ‘stories over stuff’ is a key mission of ours at Big Red Group – and we’re thrilled to be making stories from the world’s oldest continuous culture more accessible to Australia’s domestic and international visitors.”

Big Red Group provides more than 4,000 experience operators with quality customers and the tourism industry with trusted intelligence and partnership.

Welcome to Country is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by connecting consumers with authentic cultural experiences and products.

https://www.redballoon.com.au/aboriginal-experiences/