Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN)– At the far northern end of Australia lies a destination considered among the least important and visited by tourists.
But that reality is almost changing thanks to Fraser Nye, a local Aboriginal entrepreneur.
The Torres Strait consists of 247 islands located in the northernmost tip of Queensland, near Papua New Guinea.
The aboriginal inhabitants of the Torres Strait have Melanesian and Australian roots.
Many of these volcanic islands are nestled amid gorgeous turquoise waters, contributing to the wonderful natural scenery.
Getting there is made easier by organizing a first-of-its-kind day trip from Cairns, Queensland, known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.
“We’ve accumulated experience in serving people, not tourism,” said Nye, co-founder of Straits Experiences. “It just so happens that we do experiences.”
Stairs Experiences is locally operated and operated, transporting people into the Torres Strait.
As a long-time member of the local government in the area, Nye has seen how change can be brought regarding by giving people access to more opportunities, especially in rural areas that suffer from a lack of jobs and difficulty in accessing various industries.
Having seen the way Cairns and the Barrier Reef are overwhelmed with tourists, he also tries to strike a balance.
Opening up tourism in rural parts of the Torres Strait will create more job opportunities for young people, but by monitoring how other tourist destinations deal with the industry, it will enable them to make smart decisions for long-term sustainability.
They also invest in one of the region’s greatest assets, the indigenous people.
“We work first and foremost with our community, our seniors, our leadership because this is regarding them,” Nye explained.
The history of the Torres Strait Islanders has been one of struggle. Shortly following their arrival on the continent, white European settlers in Australia became involved in a bloody conflict with the local Aboriginal communities.
Aboriginal children, as well as children of Torres Strait residents, were forcibly taken and sent to live in boarding schools, or with non-indigenous families.
The government at the time claimed that their removal was in the interest of the children, but that it traumatized the survivors and their families through generations.
Today, only regarding 3% of Australians are considered Indigenous.
With a one-day tour, visitors get what Nye describes as a “dose” of local culture and history.
Guests depart on a Cairns charter at 6:40 a.m. for “Thursday Island”, or “Whipin” in the local language, the main strait in the strait.
A guide accompanies the arrivals on the flight to talk regarding the lands and people of the Torres Islands.
Upon arrival on Thursday Island, visitors experience a full day of activities, including a scenic tour of Century Island, or Ngurapai, a visit to the late 19th century Green Hill Castle, and an exploration of early 19th-century military sites. World War II, traditional music and dance performances by a local group called “Island Stars”, plus the opportunity to enjoy lunch.
“This is the only part of the whole of Australia where Aboriginal races can be seen in their homeland,” Nye stressed.
For many Australians, the Torres Strait is still an unvisited destination they don’t know much regarding.
“We want to get to a place where people are more understanding, empathetic, where we can have a great conversation as human beings, and be friends,” Nye said.
