Carolin Waisimon: Guiding Papua to Sustainable Tourism, Nature and Tradition

It was not immediately easy for Carolin Waisimon when she left behind her Bali-based hospitality career to return to her father’s village in Jayapura, Papua. However, after fearing she had made a career-limiting decision, she discovered unforeseen opportunities there.

‘I already had a good life and career in Bali, while in Papua I had to start from zero in a different field,’ said Carolin, who is known as Olin. ‘I cried when I realised how different everything was, and I complained to God.

‘I never imagined that I would receive a scholarship from the Australia Awards, that I’d get to see so much of the world or how my business skills would improve. If I still worked at hotels, it would take some time and a certain position to get to where I am now.’

Making Valuable Discoveries

Born and bred in Bali, Olin embarked on a career in hospitality until her late 20s. But the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impact on Bali's tourism industry convinced her to resign. Her parents asked her to go back to Papua to help with the family business. Olin moved from bustling Bali to Rhepang Muaif, a five-hour flight and drive through the jungle.

There, her father, Alex Waisimon, introduced Olin to birdwatching ecotourism. Rhepang Muaif is home to seven species of birds-of-paradise, which are highly sought-after by birdwatchers. This motivated Alex to establish the village as an ecotourism destination, the Isyo Hill's Community Group, in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund, the private sector and the regional Government of Papua in 2017.

Olin took on the role of Operational Manager at Isyo Lodge Papua, a rainforest retreat for birdwatching trips. Alongside handling the daily operations, she organised guests’ trips and tour logistics.

With no background in ecotourism, she used her skills in English and mountain trekking to serve as an interpreter for local guides and foreign tourists. She spent years learning about the many bird species in the area. Supported by her father's knowledge, Olin later became a guide herself, opening a whole new world to her.

‘To witness how tourists were ecstatic when they saw the birds they were looking for, I never saw anything like it. It was so wonderful,’ she said.

‘I learned that my father and I began to have a particular market, and I encouraged him to create our own agency.’

The Influence of Storytelling

In 2022, Alex, an Australia Awards Short Course alumnus, encouraged Olin to participate in the Australia Awards Short Course on Sustainable Tourism Management at Griffith University.

Olin acknowledged the Short Course’s immense benefits, including the many insights she gained into birdwatching, the varied backgrounds of participants that made discussions lively and valuable, and the course's role in making her determined to establish her own travel agency. She was also delighted to have the same mentor and professor as her father had.

She credited the course for introducing critical thinking to her career.

‘We were encouraged to question anything or speak up on something we viewed as incorrect, as long as we came up with a solution,’ said Olin.

Among the many lessons she continues to put into practice is the power of storytelling.

‘It affected me deeply how in Australia tourists became interested in trips through the influence of storytelling,’ she said.

‘Everything can be more meaningful with good storytelling. So in our tours, we incorporate the history of our Papuan ancestors who traded with foreign people during the Dutch colonial period in Indonesia, the ancient roads that are still used, and how tribal villages are still alive and well in the middle of a modern city that has a Starbucks and cinemas.’

Creating a Family Legacy

Waru Travel was established in 2023, with Olin currently serving as its Director and Travel Designer. Her day-to-day job includes creating itineraries for trips throughout Papua and serving as a field guide for cultural group tours and birdwatching trips. According to Olin, Waru Travel is the only local business that runs independently of government management.

Olin said that birdwatching trips in Papua have become more popular in recent years, especially among local tourists and photographers. This is partly due to rising awareness of the need to preserve wildlife. In turn, this positively affects her family's initiatives. .

Meanwhile, cultural tours take visitors into rainforests and traditional villages where the indigenous people of Papua have lived for centuries, offering a glimpse into the authentic lives of Papuan tribes.

Supporting Local Employment

To make the cultural tours possible, Waru Travel trained local people in service and hospitality.

‘They are empowered by being able to make an income in their own homes,’ Olin said. ‘This challenges the strongly held belief that they must leave their villages to make ends meet, that jobs were only available in cities or they should enroll as police officers or civil servants.’

Within her tribe, Namblong, Olin had met many young women who had not been able to pursue education or who were raising children as single parents. Some older women worked for Alex but found it increasingly difficult to do so as they aged. . Now, the women can earn income through a project created by Olin and her younger sister.

In the Namblong tribe, only women are allowed to knit noken, which are bags made of woven or knotted bark, traditionally used to carry items ranging from groceries to babies. After noticing that all women used the same noken model, Olin introduced modern, practical styles such as tote bags, pouches, laptop cases and tumbler holders.

‘They knit at home, and afterwards we go around villages to pick up the nokens up to sell through the @ki.basic account on Instagram,’ said Olin. The nokens are also sold in stores in Bali, Jakarta and Jayapura.

Olin said she would continue to advocate and adhere to the principles of sustainable tourism. She highlighted the need for collaboration among various stakeholders, including fellow travel agencies, local communities, and the government. She envisions Papua as a land where sustainability goes hand in hand with nature and tradition.