Indigenous Tourism Program at ATE26

The Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) is the Australian tourism industry’s largest annual business to business event, run by Tourism Australia. This year, ATE will run from 10 May to 14 May 2026 in Adelaide.

In a new initiative, to support and grow the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism experiences working in international markets, Tourism Australia is offering a one-day program for eligible tourism business to attend ATE on a 1-day program. VisitCanberra is supporting this initiative through additional program elements and providing up to $1000 in reimbursement of travel expenses.

Program

VisitCanberra can support up to 2 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism businesses (1 delegate per business) to attend Tourism Australia’s Indigenous Tourism Program at ATE26.

The program will run on Tuesday 12 May from 9:30am at the Adelade Convention Centre and will include:

• Meetings with Tourism Australia team members
• Walk through of ATE with Phil Lockyer, Head of Indigenous Affairs, Tourism Australia
• Networking lunch

VisitCanberra is offering an optional extension of the program including:

• Attendance at VisitCanberra’s ATE operator function on the evening of Tuesday 12 May 2026 in Adelaide
• Joining VisitCanberra appointments/meetings at ATE on the afternoon of 12 May 2026

Eligibility criteria

• You are an ACT based tourism business.
• You are currently delivering an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism experience in the ACT.
• You have a current Australian Tourism Data Warehouse listing.
• You are interested in understanding how to become Internationally market-ready.
• You are open to developing commissionable rates for at the appropriate industry levels, relevant to the distribution system employed.
• You regularly engage with VisitCanberra.
• You have previously taken part in trade and/or media famils hosted by VisitCanberra.

Terms of participation

• You must commit to attend Tourism Australia’s Indigenous Tourism Program ATE26.
• One delegate is to be nominated per business and must compete the one-day program on 12 May 2026
• The program is non-transferrable to another delegate in your business.
• Tourism Australia will cover the cost of the day pass to attend ATE26.
• This event will take place in Adelaide and travel expenses, including accommodation and flights, will be the participant’s responsibility to book.
• The participant can choose to travel to and from Adelaide 12 May but must attend ATE from 9:30am to 5:30pm.
• Any additional costs over and above the stated subsidies, as well as additional travel expenses, will be the participant’s responsibility.

Selection process

You must apply using the Expression of Interest form here.
Applications close on at 5pm Thursday 23 April 2026.

VisitCanberra reserves the right to select the appropriate products based on the eligibility criteria and EOI submission. If the number of interested companies exceeds the number of places, VisitCanberra has the right to apply its discretion to select a balanced mix of products and services represented in the program.

VisitCanberra support

VisitCanberra will provide reimbursement of travel expenses up to $1000 per selected business, to assist with cost of flights and 1 nights’ accommodation. The reimbursement will be provided after 12 May 2026, and the invoice must have tax receipts for bookings attached.