I congratulate Tasman Langford and Sheldon Thomas on the official opening of Trowunna Tours.
Since January, the pair has been taking visitors to kunanyi (Mount Wellington) where they share stories and cultural insights of the Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
This unique journey goes beyond the wilderness and to the heart of Tasmania’s first people to give the world a deeper understanding of our island and its traditional owners.
I was delighted to join Aboriginal Elder Aunty Girlie today to cut the official opening rope, and to provide $3,000 through the Premier’s Discretionary Fund for the venture.
Aboriginal tourism provides an opportunity for Aboriginal people to tell their story in their way, sharing cultural insights, traditional practices and contemporary concerns.
Cultural tourism is a growing market, with the latest Tasmanian Visitors Survey revealing more than 35,000 visitors experienced the Tasmanian Aboriginal culture in some way during their stay last year, an increase of 12 per cent from 2013.
We want more Tasmanians and our visitors to gain a greater understanding and appreciation for our Aboriginal heritage through authentic and engaging experiences like Trowunna, which will also help achieve our ambitious target of 1.5 million visitors to the state by 2020.