Visitors to regional NSW will be able to view Aboriginal art, taste bush tucker and experience indigenous dance and culture through a series of immersive Aboriginal cultural tourism experiences today funded by the NSW Government.
A spokesperson for the Department of Regional NSW said a total of $21.9 million from the Indigenous Stream of the Regional Growth - Environment and Tourism Fund has been allocated to four projects across Bega Valley, Cessnock and Coffs Harbour.
The funding will support the delivery of the NSW Government Aboriginal Tourism Action Plan 2017 – 2020 and deliver infrastructure to establish attractions and experiences across NSW including art galleries, outdoor performance areas, walking tracks and camp facilities for tourists to engage with the world’s oldest living culture.
The Indigenous cultural tourism projects funded through the program are:
- Madoo Museum Cultural Hub, Cessnock - $6.3 million
- NSW Premier Aboriginal Experience, Coffs Harbour - $5.5 million
- The Bundian Way Walking Track - Node 1, Bega Valley - $7.2 million
- Jigamy Campground Upgrade, Bega Valley - $2.9 million.
The NSW Government specifically set aside funding for Indigenous tourism projects under the $300 million Regional Growth - Environment and Tourism Fund to support the unique offerings of the regional Aboriginal tourism industry.
The Department of Regional NSW led a unique assessment process for projects under the Indigenous Stream, with the Assessment Panel offering the opportunity for applicants to meet them in-person and on-country, which empowered applicants to closely maintain ownership of their project’s story.
Strong probity parameters were put in place to enable the on-country visits, with the Assessment Panel able to experience firsthand the local connection between the people, land and community for each project.
The Regional Growth - Environment and Tourism Fund is a program under the $2 billion Regional Growth Fund, which is delivering the economic, infrastructure and lifestyle improvements that make regional NSW a great place to live, work and play.
The Regional Growth - Environment and Tourism Fund is now fully committed with 69 projects funded across the entire program.
View further information about the Regional Growth - Environment and Tourism fund.