FED: Indigenous tourism will not support Games boycott

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2000
FED: Indigenous tourism will not support Games boycott

Indigenous tourism leaders say the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
tourism industry won't support a boycott of the Sydney Olympics.

Aboriginal Tourism Australia chairperson LOIS PEELER says boycotts and violent protests
over mandatory sentencing and the stolen generation during the Games will hurt Aboriginal
athletes as well as the indigenous tourism industry.

But she says it's the right of Aboriginal and other groups to protest in front of the
international media.

Outspoken Aboriginal activist CHARLES PERKINS has called for violent protests during
the Olympics and has told BBC radio that buildings and cars will be burned.

Ms PEELER is attending the National Regional Tourism Conference in Alice Springs, which
will be followed by the first Indigenous Tourism Summit tomorrow.

It's believed that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism has major growth potential
with about 200 indigenous tourist operators in the country and the sale of indigenous
arts and crafts estimated to be worth more than $200 million.

AAP RTV ch/geb/jmt



Eds: Repeating and correcting origin in take key

KEYWORD: REGIONAL BOYCOTT (ALICE SPRINGS)

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