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Taiwan has been announced as the host for the Third World Indigenous Tourism Summit (WITS) in March 2024. The announcement was made by the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) Minister Icyang Parod, during his participation in the Second WITS in Perth, Australia, where he led a delegation including officials from the “Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the “Ministry of Economic Affairs,” the “Ministry of Transportation and Communications Tourism Bureau,” and the Taiwan Visitors Association.

The WITS was founded in 2012 with the creation of the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance (WINTA) by participants from six countries. Today, WINTA is a global organization of indigenous people that promotes indigenous rights in the tourism sector, in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Over 630 people from 21 countries attended the Second WITS.

Minister Icyang emphasized that tourism is closely related to various spheres of indigenous people’s lives, and that they can guide and explain tours from an indigenous perspective, while sharing in tourism’s benefits. Through the development of the tourism industry, indigenous people can increase their incomes with a sustainable business model.

Taiwan is an important tourist destination in Asia with 16 indigenous groups, each with its own language, lifestyle, and culture. The Austronesian language groups are believed to have migrated from Taiwan, as indicated by language, archaeological, genetic, and paper mulberry research. For example, the number 5 is pronounced lima, and the eye is pronounced mata, in the Philippines, Malaysia, Palau, the Marshall Islands, Madagascar, and New Zealand. Minister Icyang highlighted these examples as evidence of Taiwan’s connection to the Austronesian language family.

Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister of Australia, Hon. Patrick Gorman, MP, noted that Taiwan is an important trading partner, generating investment opportunities for Australia and Taiwanese companies, as well as jobs for both economies. He also praised the long history of encouraging people-to-people contacts between Australia and Taiwan in various sectors, including the arts, culture, education, science, and sport, all of which are closely linked to tourism. He congratulated Taiwan on hosting the next WITS and expressed the hope of participating next year in Taiwan.

During the delegation’s visit to Perth, Taiwan’s CIP promoted indigenous tourism through mobile tourism information, online tours, and indigenous music, dance, and other activities, showcasing Taiwan’s indigenous cultures. In addition, the delegation participated in roundtables with government agencies, youth, and scholars.

With Taiwan hosting the Third WITS in 2024, the event is expected to further promote indigenous tourism and the rights of indigenous people in the tourism sector, and to deepen international understanding of Taiwan’s unique indigenous cultures.