In the lush landscape of Far North Queensland, where the rainforest meets the sea, the Mundraby family are living their dream of sharing First Nations culture with visitors from around the world, a dream some thought unachievable.

Growing up in the Indigenous community of Yarrabah, near Cairns, Dale Mundraby listened to the stories of his elders, that spoke of the land's spirit, the interconnectedness of all living things and the importance of preserving their culture.

In 2011, during a campfire discussion with elders, the Mandingalbay Yidinji man recognised the need for greater economic opportunities for local people, the preservation of traditional knowledge and better Indigenous representation in tourism.

He went on to form Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours, an award-winning business that runs tours and events that blend storytelling, traditional practices and environmental education.

"We wanted to provide an authentic experience that goes beyond the typical tourist offerings," Mr Mundraby said.

"It's about connecting people to our land and culture while empowering our community."

He now employs 22 people – many from Yarrabah — and welcomes more than 5,000 guests each year.

However, the journey has not been without its challenges.

Mr Mundraby said he faced scepticism from some within the broader tourism industry, which he said often overlooked Indigenous contributions.

"We went to all levels of government and had to do a lot of work around this concept of creating an economy that's going to assist the Aboriginal community."

Mr Mundraby's experience is not uncommon.

A parliamentary inquiry into Australia's post-COVID tourism sector found many Indigenous tourism operators throughout Australia faced similar challenges.

Experts say it's costing opportunities for First Nations people as well as the wider economy.

While international visitor numbers are still lagging behind pre-COVID numbers, Tourism Research Australia figures show more international visitors are seeking out Indigenous experiences with 15 per cent of tourists participating in cultural activities in 2023, up from 11 per cent in 2019.

The parliamentary inquiry's "Are We There Yet?" report, released last month, made 28 recommendations, following a year of public hearings which heard from the major airlines, tourism bodies and academics about the challenges facing the sector.

At the heart of the report's recommendations is the establishment of a First Nations tourism body, to run alongside the taxpayer-funded Tourism Australia.

The new organisation would be modelled on the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC), which helps to develop Aboriginal tourism experiences in the state and encourages more First Nations people to work in the industry.

WAITOC CEO Robert Taylor, a Nhanda Yamaji man, said there were many challenges facing Indigenous tourism operators, including high operational costs in remote areas, workforce shortages and minimal financial backing.

He said while Tourism Australia had programs in place to support Indigenous tourism, many businesses were not at a level to be marketed through the national body.

He said the establishment of a First Nations tourism organisation would help to develop experiences throughout different parts of Australia and support those wanting to get started.

"A lot of people come to Australia thinking they're going to have an Aboriginal experience in one place, and that it's the same everywhere, but there are over 300 language groups and different cultures in Australia," Mr Taylor said.

"It's a really important thing to teach people that when they come to Australia."

The report also called for the inclusion of First Nations people on the Tourism Australia board and the establishment of a First Nations advisory panel.

In a statement, Tourism Australia said the organisation was at the forefront of promoting and developing First Nations tourism, through initiatives including the Come and Say G'day campaign and Discover Aboriginal Experiences.

Tourism Australia had also appointed Indigenous woman Georgina Richters to the board.

University of Queensland tourism expert Lisa Ruhanen said she was pleased there was growing recognition of the cultural and economic importance of Indigenous tourism.

"Tourists can't have an Australian Indigenous tourism experience anywhere else in the world, and so it is really our key cultural offering that we can share with visitors," Professor Ruhanen said.

"It has been undervalued … over time the sort of broader industry haven't necessarily recognised it as significant. It's always been seen more of a niche sector."

Back in Far North Queensland, visitors take a short boat ride from Cairns to a quiet bush block at East Trinity, where a team of Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours guides share stories of their country.

Joanne Mundraby, who works as a lead tour guide said her work went beyond offering a tourism service.

Ms Mundraby has made the move from stay-at-home mum to leading tours and said she was driven by a desire to share her culture and educate tourists.

"It's not just a job of tourism," Ms Mundraby said.

She said she was supportive of a stand-alone national tourism body to support Indigenous tourism operators.

"We have a lot of different tribes and nations within Australia and they are all very different, so having a national body that could bring all those experiences together would be great not just for our country, but the rest of the world," she said.

For tourists like Beverly Milo, from Florida in the United States, the experience has been one of a kind.

"You don't experience things like this in your own country, and to come to a place you've never been, to meet the first people and learn about their customs and ways, it's incredible," Ms Milo said.

Canadian tourist Barbara Bondy-Pare said she looks for First Nations experiences in every country she visits.

"We've done cultural experiences in New Zealand, Hawaii and here and I've loved the experiences more than any other," she said.