Heading for the heart with vouchers and free flights

Two Austrade-administered grants have been supporting tourism to the centre of Australia recently. Under the Australian Government’s $5 million Red Centre Marketing Boost, Tourism Central Australia has encouraged visitors to ‘head for the heart’ with accommodation vouchers, free flights and a marketing campaign.

Meanwhile, under a $2.5 million Red Centre Tourism Development Fund, 17 local operators have been creating new experiences. Projects include an Indigenous tourism hub in the Olive Pink Botanic Garden in Alice Springs/Mparntwe and e-bike touring.

Spotlight: First Nations tourism business

On Wandi Wandian Country in the South Coast region of New South Wales, Mirritya Mundya (meaning “Hungry Blackfish”) is a First Nations-owned business sharing Indigenous history through food.

Founded by Wandiwandian, Walbunja and Djirringanj descendant Dwayne Bannon-Harrison, the business is grounded in First Nations principles and connects people to Country through native ingredients, storytelling and shared experiences.

Dwayne is a member of the First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership, supported by Austrade, Tourism Australia and the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA). The Partnership is working towards the establishment of a national First Nations tourism body.