Intrepid Travel, the world’s largest travel B Corp, has concluded its Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), growing the number of First Nations experiences included on its Australian trips by more than 300 per cent; connecting 2,219 travellers to First Nations culture; and creating growth opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism operators.
Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP) are endorsed by Reconciliation Australia and assist businesses to embed the principles of reconciliation. Intrepid Travel joined the RAP network of more than 1,100 organisations in 2019.
The company has now published its Innovate RAP Progress Report to transparently report on its progress during the reporting period from July 2020 to July 2022.
In particular, Intrepid has focused on introducing more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experiences on its Australian itineraries. This has seen an increase in the number of First Nations tourism experiences on trips – from 12 in 2019 to 50 experiences offered by 41 suppliers by June 2022.
Plus, for the first time, Intrepid customers experience multi-day stays in Aboriginal communities, allowing for deeper engagement with First Nations cultures, histories and languages. This includes on the South Australia Outback Adventure itinerary, which stays at Iga Warta on Adnyamathanha land, and the Eyre Peninsula Adventure tour, which stays at the Scotdesco Aboriginal Community in Bookabie.
“As an Australian founded business, our reconciliation journey continues to be one of the most important experiences in our company’s history – we’re learning every day as we deepen our engagement with First Nations Australians,” said Brett Mitchell, Intrepid’s ANZ Managing Director.
“Our customers have told us that experiencing Aboriginal and Torres Strait cultures on Country is literally changing the way they see the world. And, we’re learning so much as a business through working with more First Nations suppliers. We know we have a long way to go and we’re committed to making that positive change – here and all around the world,” Mitchell adds.
Intrepid Travel’s reconciliation working group includes two First Nations consultants, Bart Pigram, a Yawaru man and owner operator of Narlijia Experiences in Broome, WA and Patricia Adjei, a Wuthathi, Mabuiag Islander and Ghanaian woman from Sydney/Warrane who works as First Nations Arts and Culture Director at the Australian Council for the Arts.
Other steps taken to support stronger relationships with First Nations people include:
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Tour leaders complete cultural competency training, including how to deliver an Acknowledgement of Country at the start of every trip in Australia.
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Staff are offered the option to work on January 26 and take an alternative day off, in recognition that Australia Day is not a celebration for First Nations Australians.
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A commitment to introduce dual naming for Australian capital cities in on its website. This follows the leadership of Tourism Australia, which has adopted Aboriginal dual naming for key Australian capital cities.
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Increasing cultural learning by offering its team the opportunity to join Aboriginal-led walking tours or virtual tourism experiences – 103 staff members have participated.
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Participating in the first pilot culture tour guide training program in Victoria run by the Taungurung Land and Waters Council (TLaWC) in partnership with Koorie Heritage Trust and Visit Victoria to deliver tour guide training to 15 prospective Aboriginal tour leaders.
The company’s impact and experience in Australia has influenced its approach around the world. In 2023, the company will feature more than 100 First Nations experiences in its worldwide trip offering, in countries including New Zealand, Costa Rica, Mexico and more.
Intrepid Travel completed 76 per cent of the 90 actions in its Innovate RAP. It continues to work on completing a further 13 per cent, while also developing its next RAP in consultation with Reconciliation Australia.
