Aboriginal businesses are urged to get their registrations in to attend the next NSW Aboriginal Business Roundtable: Walking Together to Create Cultural Tourism Experiences on 3 July in Port Stephens on Worimi Country.
This free event is specifically designed for Aboriginal business owners and operators, or those with an interest in the industry.
Its focus is Aboriginal cultural tourism and the visitor economy.
The Minns Labor Government is committed to supporting and empowering Aboriginal businesses, which has a proven multiplier benefit in helping Aboriginal and broader communities to thrive.
NSW is unique in having a specific Closing the Gap priority reform - Reform 5 - that specifically focuses on Aboriginal economic prosperity, jobs and nurturing business.
The eighth Aboriginal Business Roundtable, held at Murrook Cultural Centre in Williamstown, is an opportunity for business owners to network, connect with service providers, and learn from industry leaders.
It will give business owners a valuable opportunity to gain valuable insights from other Aboriginal tourism business operators, and discuss procurement with representatives from the public and private sectors.
Participants will hear from the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, David Harris, who will launch the NSW First Nations Business Sector Report 2025 and share insights from the recently formed NSW Aboriginal Business Taskforce, which are further NSW Government initiatives to highlight and support the Aboriginal business sector.
A recent report from Tourism Research Australia found that NSW was the state with the highest number of domestic overnight trips that incorporated a First Nations activity, with an average of 242,000 such trips per year.
The roundtable will focus on four key themes: creating new pathways, boosting Aboriginal cultural tourism in NSW, collaborating for a more attractive NSW, and empowering regional Aboriginal businesses.
The event will run from 10am to 3pm and participants can attend in-person or online via livestream.
Register by visiting the NSW Aboriginal Business Roundtable web page.
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:
"We know that tourists and locals in NSW have a strong desire to learn more about Aboriginal cultures and histories by engaging in experiences with Aboriginal businesses and service providers.
"The success of the Aboriginal business sector is a great thing for our state, it delivers prosperity and better outcomes for Aboriginal people, which helps Close the Gap.
"The NSW Government recognises that economic empowerment and business development are critical to the socio-economic growth of Aboriginal communities and the State's broader prosperity.
"I am looking forward to meeting with Aboriginal business owners and learning how the NSW Government can continue to support the growth and success of the sector."
NSW Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council (NATOC) Chair Dwayne Bannon-Harrison said:
"The NSW Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council is proud to support the upcoming Aboriginal Business Roundtable: Walking Together to Create Cultural Tourism Experiences.
"For over 15 years, we've worked to empower Aboriginal communities across NSW to build strong pathways into tourism."
