Heritage Tourism

I'm pleased to have the opportunity to share my thoughts about heritage in TRUST News, and look forward to an ongoing conversation with you all over the next 12 months.

One area I'm keen to encourage more work on is heritage tourism. Domestic and international visitors who participate in cultural and heritage tourism activities stay longer at their destination, travel further and spend more than the average visitor. It's a phenomenon that's happening all over the world, and one we need to better exploit in Australia.

Heritage tourism experiences encompass a multitude of activities. Maybe a walk through Kakadu National Park, or a trip along Tasmania's convict trail. Perhaps tickets for the Boxing Day test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, or a drive across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to see the amazing view of the Opera House.

The possibilities are endless, not just at a national level but also a local one. This is certainly the case if you're a National Trust member. Browsing through upcoming events it was hard to pick just one activity I wanted to do. We're lucky to have so many options, and so many people (particularly volunteers) passionate about sharing them.

Since I became the Federal Heritage Minister I've been reminded of how adept we are at interpreting our history and making it accessible to everyone. This is also one of the aims of the National Heritage List and the work of the Australian Heritage Council.

The Council gives me invaluable advice on protecting our most outstanding heritage places. My thanks to the four retiring members – Dr Jane Lennon, Dr Denis Saunders, Dr Gaye Sculthorpe and the Hon Richard Lewis; and welcome to the three new members – Adjunct Professor Sharon Sullivan, Associate Professor Peter Valentine and Dr Jackie Huggins.

The Council always has a busy work program, and last year

played a role in the National Heritage listing of a number of incredible sites, including the Adelaide Park Lands and City Layout and The Australian Alps National Parks. The planning of Adelaide was a technical masterwork that remains an enduring treasure for us all, while the Alps, Australia's high country, are home to rare animals and plants, places ofdreaming for Aboriginal people and stories of early settlement.

The Alps are also part of the National Landscapes program, run jointly by Tourism Australia and Parks Australia. This program promotes distinctive natural and cultural environments to 'experience seekers, and travellers wanting new adventures that help them engage with local culture.

In the last issue of TRUST News I was interested to read about Queensland's Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, a Trust-managed property taking this approach. Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Fisher's comments resonated strongly – the importance of setting tourism in a broad context, while having a local flavour that ensures an experience found nowhere else.

Finding new ways of doing things is really important, particularly at a time when our heritage places are facing increased environmental, management and financial challenges. It's true funding is limited, and I want to connect with the community to best direct what's available. Governments, non-government organisations, private industry, philanthropists and the community must work together to protect and build awareness of our special heritage places.

One of the ways we can do this is through the National Trusts Partnership Program, which I'm pleased to announce is continuing in 2009. It supports a range of activities to conserve and promote heritage across the country, and I'm very keen to learn of the progress made throughout the year.

I look forward to catching up with you in the next edition of TRUST News.

Source: www.nattrust.com.au/about_the_trust/trust_news Trust News Australia FEBRUARY 2009 page 8