PwC Indigenous Consulting to develop tourism master plan for Kakadu
PwC Indigenous Consulting has been tapped to develop the Kakadu Tourism Master Plan as part of the government’s $216 million effort to boost tourism to the park.
The Australian Government has appointed PwC Indigenous Consulting to develop the master plan for its $216 million investment into revitalising the Kakadu National Park as a premiere international destination for tourism. The Kakadu Tourism Master Plan will seek to provide a strategic outline for growing visitor numbers to the region over the next ten years, with a focus on sustainable, Indigenous-led tourism and the park’s natural and cultural heritage.
“Kakadu is one of Australia’s iconic tourism destinations, welcoming more than 200,000 domestic and international visitors each year,” said Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley. “The Master Plan will consider Kakadu’s vision and goals, building on the cultural and natural values that the park is internationally recognised for. The approach will be collaborative and inclusive, building on the strengths of existing planning to create a roadmap for the park’s future.”
According to a press release from the minister’s office, PwC Indigenous Consulting will work closely with Parks Australia, Kakadu’s Bininj/Mungguy Traditional Owners, the Kakadu Board of Management, and the tourism sector at large. “We’ll be in Kakadu in September to hold consultations with Traditional Owners and the tourism industry with a view to delivering a draft plan for public comment,” said PwC’s Northern Territory Director for ndigenous work Lauren Ganley.
“The PwC Indigenous Consulting team has a deep understanding of the tourism sector in Northern Australia with a focus on Indigenous business and economic development that is underpinned by local knowledge and cultures,” continued Ganley. “We understand the Kakadu Tourism Master Plan has economic, environmental and cultural significance to the Northern Territory and have assembled a team with expertise in tourism planning, infrastructure and Indigenous engagement to deliver this project.”
Among the projects which have been flagged are the development of new visitor experiences, improving WiFi and connectivity in the park, and infrastructure upgrades aimed at extending the main visitor season and boosting accessibility to key sites within the park. During the wet season months, Kakudu experiences average rainfall of above 300 millimetres across its 20,000 square kilometres of World Heritage territory, with many of its roads difficult to traverse year-round.
“From upgraded campgrounds to walking tracks, viewing platforms, signage, mobile and WiFi services, our support through infrastructure investment will lock Kakadu in as one of the jewels of Australian tourism,” said Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack previously. “One of the most important elements of this initiative will be the new Kakadu Tourism Master Plan, to help grow tourism in the top end and ensure the region can reach its potential.”
Majority indigenous owned and staffed, PwC Indigenous Consulting was established in 2013 with the aim of furthering indigenous self-determination and providing consultancy to government, corporate and community clients on Indigenous matters. Earlier this year, the unit co-launched a joint Reconciliation Action Plan, which serves as a strategic framework for driving an organisation’s contribution to indigenous reconciliation both internally and at the community-level.
