Demand for off-road experiences in desert Australia is large but
we know very little about how desert people can translate the
potential of this market into sustainable livelihoods. On
Track™ has been underway since 2005. On Track™ examines
the potential economic and social benefits of 4WD tourism, as well
as understanding the ressures on the environment, culture and
infrastructure of the desert. It looks at safe and responsible
four-wheel driving, land access, economic opportunities for
Aboriginal communities1 2, changes in travel
technologies3, changes in holiday travel patterns, and
protection of natural and cultural values4. These are
issues that are vital to the development of a successful and
sustainable desert 4WD tourism market. For a list of research
papers, presentations and outputs, go to the On Track
reports page.
Outcomes
- Better planning of 4WD tourism through clear descriptions,
analysis and ways of representing the flow of vehicles in desert
areas.
- Greater potential for remote desert settlements to provide
tourism-related products and services, and to support viable
tourism.
- Better protection of cultural, social and natural values from
the impacts of 4WD tourism.
- More 4WD tourists demonstrating an understanding of safe and
responsible driving and sustainable management practices.
- Better coordination of tourism marketing and management between
private and public sectors and local, regional, state, national and
international interests.
Project components
 |
Participants
Dean Carson is a project leader in the DKCRC. He manages a
national team of researchers working on a range of projects that
aim to create sustainable livelihoods for desert people from the
growing 4WD tourism market.
The project’s participants are:
You can also have a look at what we're doing with Google
Maps in the project.
Notes
1. Tremblay, P. 2008. Protected areas and development in arid
Australia: challenges to
regional tourism. The Rangeland Journal 30 (1): 67–75.
2. Friedel, M & Chewings, V. 2008, Central Australian tourism
futures: refining regional
development strategies using a systems approach. DKCRC Working
Paper 29.
3. Schmallegger, D & Carson, D. 2007. Reaching the independent
traveller: product
distribution issues for Aboriginal tourism enterprises in remote
Australia. 3rd International
Conference on Tourism, Athens, July 2007.
4. Schmiechen, J. 2006. Indigenous tourism research agenda: key
directions for the future
2005–08. NT Tourism Commission, Sustainable Tourism CRC,
Desert Knowledge CRC,
Tropical Savannas CRC & Charles Darwin University.