Welcome to the On Track web site. On Track is a research project
looking at the potential contributions and impacts of four wheel
drive (off track) tourism in desert Australia. It is concerned with
weighing up the potential economic and social benefits against the
pressures on the environment and desert infrastructure. There are
many issues affecting the development of 4WD tourism: safety and
responsible driving practices, land tenure access, economic
opportunities for Aboriginal communities, changes in travel
technology, changes in holiday travel patterns and so on.
On Track incorporates seven specific areas of investigation:
some of which are well underway:
1. Information gathering – Collate relevant data sets to
describe desert 4WD systems and make the usefulness of these known
to researchers through a data dictionary.
2. Information Representation – Develop techniques for
presenting data sources including a geographic information system
and visitor flows model.
3. Innovation constraints and opportunities – Describe
opportunities that exist for desert communities to develop viable
livelihoods around 4WD tourism. This will facilitate informed
assessments and management practices for tourism development.
4. Market Profiling – Develop profiles of the different
desert 4WD tourism markets to assist marketing and management.
5. 'The ideal 4WD experience' – Analyse travel diaries, web
logs (blogs), popular literature and other qualitative sources to
identify the key elements of 4WD tourism experiences.
6. Responsible travel practices – Research issues relating to
safety, legal compliance, and environmentally and culturally
appropriate behavior in desert 4WD systems.
7. The system in action – Demonstrate the application of the
knowledge generated through the On Track project by
applying the models and techniques to a case study of the Red
Centre Way.
