What is a Welcome to Country?

You may have heard the term Welcome to Country before, but what is a Welcome to Country?

In simple terms it’s a ceremony that is conducted when one group is seeking to enter or meet with another group. The ceremony traditionally may have lasted for many days, as discussions are held about the purpose of the visit and appropriate ceremonies are performed. What is significant about this, is the act of gaining permission and agreeing to be respectful whilst you are visiting someone’s country. Often a lead party would be carrying a message stick that provided the details of why people were travelling, the number of people and where they were coming from. Sound familiar? A bit like a passport and seeking a visa to enter a country!

Today, Welcome to Country ceremonies have evolved as a way of acknowledging and paying respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owners of the land.

In this spirit, Welcome to Country is about respectful travel to another’s country. The Experiences you will find listed on our marketplace are among the best in Australia. You will be immersed in the world’s oldest living culture and provided with insights into a rich culture. In return you are asked to respect the country and its people.