FNTMP Success Stories: Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours and Russell Boswell

Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours (MAIT) is the tourism arm of the Mandingalbay Yidinji Aboriginal Corporation (MYAC). The tours operate on traditional lands at East Trinity, across Trinity inlet from the central business district of Cairns, Queensland. The available experiences include:

• Hands on Country Ecotour – three hour small group tour including boat ride across the Cairns Harbour to a mangrove forest, Welcoming Ceremony, short bus ride to Rainforest Trail of native foods and bush medicines, artefact presentation. Light refreshments then return to the Cairns Marina.
• Deadly After Dark Sunset Cruise – two hour cruise including Welcoming Ceremony and artefact presentation at Stingray Shelter.
• Student Groups – day visits with cultural and Ranger activities.
  
  
  

MYAC aims to continue to develop the business to build employment and rejuvenate cultural knowledge. Many Mandingalbay people live in Yarrabah which has limited employment opportunities.

MAIT has been growing and solidifying its business. It is now facing a period of change, with the finalisation of funding support for Marcus Brady’s Sales and Marketing Manager role. Marcus has built major tourism industry linkages and filled many operational gaps for almost two years.

The business revenue has grown 63% in the past year. As a result, operational needs have grown, including financial and Human Resource systems and processes. More staff are required, some needing Coxswain or driving credentials. A larger pool of staff will enable better utilisation of existing infrastructure and build profitability. This will move MYAC closer to its expansion goals which would turbocharge the employment and cultural benefits from the tourism operation.

Mentor Russell Boswell has been working with the MYAC team to:

• Analyse the financial situation around each product and the business overall to focus efforts on profitability and sustainability
• Develop a handover process to enable a smooth transition to the new phase without Marcus’ fulltime involvement
• Develop capacity in the staff team, including management, tourism coordinators and in a new team of trainee Rangers who have opportunities in the tourism operation
• Develop Standard Operating Procedures that support consistent, high quality tourism delivery

These initiatives are solidifying MAIT and allowing the business to move forward confidently. A range of templates and examples from other businesses have started the process and close collaboration between mentor and the MYAC management team have tailored these to the specific requirements.

FNTMP mentoring outcomes

The mentoring relationship with MYAC is ongoing, so final outcomes have not been fully achieved. However, the structural foundations of the business are solidifying rapidly, evidenced by:

• Financial planning in cashflow projections, tour profitability analysis and more future facing reports for the MYAC Board
• Retention and skill development of existing guides who are moving into the next level of independent operation and tour coordination roles
• HR Management systems including staff interviews to monitor progress and goals
• Targeting a Cash Reserve Fund to provide surety in case of operational or market challenges
• Clear capacity growth in the trainee Rangers, including initiating licences and credentials
• Operational Procedures documents detailing all aspects of running the tours, future-proofing logistics and supporting ongoing staff development

Tourism is a tough business with unforeseen challenges and normally slow growth trajectories. MAIT is developing ahead of many tourism businesses’ growth curves and managing the associated challenges in staffing and systems.

The FNTMP has supplied a new resource to enable MYAC to stabilise systems and plan for future growth with confidence. There is still work to do, but the initial motivations are still strong and the FNTMP can continue to support MYAC through this period of change.