Soaring demand for Indigenous tourism and cultural experience from tourists in Australia and abroad has led to new work opportunities for unemployed First Nations people to enter the sector.

The Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation has for 18 years run its Real Jobs Program, which has evolved significantly from an original mission to transition participants in community development employment projects into mainstream employment across the Northern Territory.

The RJP now strengthens the capabilities of Indigenous-led businesses across agribusiness, tourism and land management – three key sectors for First Nations jobseekers.

ILSC group chief executive officer, Joe Morrison, speaking at the organisation's annual forum on Anangu Country in the NT, said the particular focus on Indigenous tourism initiatives at the 2025 event signalled the niche sector was ripe for growth.

Importantly, it was also an industry that respected and amplified Indigenous culture, while building economic independence.

Austrade's latest Tourism Research Australia found there were three million trips that included First Nations tourism activities in 2023–24, the highest number on record, while interest from international visitors is also at record highs.

The ILSC's pivot to tourism initiatives to drive employment in the sector comes after National Indigenous Times reported last week a national First Nations tourism body was set to be established to ensure First Nations businesses and people leveraged the popular sector.

Members of the partnership – Indigenous tourism leaders from across the country – appointed Nhanda Yamaji man Robert Taylor as chair, and Cameron Costello, a Quandamooka man from Moreton Bay, as deputy chair.

If established, the First Nations tourism national body would provide advice to federal government policies and programs and represent the sector at national events and forums, while engaging in meaningful information sharing with other Indigenous tourism businesses, operators and stakeholders.

Mr Morrison said the ILSC program partnered 12 host employers and gave them comprehensive support with employee wages and on-costs, specialised training, coordination and limited operational expenses.

While the RJP continued its vital work across agribusiness and land management sectors, success stories shared at the 2025 Forum underscored the untapped potential of Indigenous tourism businesses and operators to drive employment, empowerment and cultural preservation.

The two-day event this week united seven businesses, which shared their experiences and explored future opportunities for the NT tourism sector.

Anangu Country was a fitting backdrop for the tourism-focused forum, and highlighted the deep connection between cultural heritage and economic opportunity.

Organisations shared insights from their journeys, with many emphasising the importance of Indigenous leadership in developing authentic tourism experiences.

The RJP's objective is to employ and train Indigenous people, and to build individual capacity to take up employment outside the RJP.

Mr Morrison since the program's inception in 2007, RJP's structured approach had created ongoing employment opportunities for previously jobless Indigenous people.

"For nearly two decades, the RJP has created lasting employment for Indigenous people across a range of sectors," he said.