Importance of Desert Exploring and Desert Tracks
Revealed
Most 4WD travellers who have been on a
holiday trip to the desert did so to explore and to do desert
tracks. On Track research at the Adeleide 4WD and Adventure Show
reveals that, more than anything, the desert is seen as a place for
exploration. And a large majority (85%) said they took their 4WD
along particular tracks in the desert when they went there for a
holiday. Just under one-third said they went on holiday trips to
deserts very often and went off-road there very often too. With its
proximity to desert environments, the Adelaide research provides
some important insights about the motivations and trip preferences
of desert 4WD enthusiasts. Find out more by visiting the snapshot
of results here.
Desert Peace wins 4WD story
competition
The Tales from the Track short story competition has been won by
Jo Connaughton from Perth for her story Desert
Peace. Jo’s story captures the essence of desert
travel as she recounts a day's activities on her family trip to the
Canning Stock Route. Her winning entry brought her and her husband,
Brian, to Alice Springs for the recent Desert Knowledge Symposium.
As well, Jo and Brian have won some great 4WD accessories and
necessities donated by 4WD Victoria and their sponsors.
Second place went to Malcolm Champion for his entertaining story
Black
Tuxedo/Brand New 4wd/White Evening Gown. Malcolm won some
great prizes donated by Hema Maps including the complete set of the
Great Desert Tracks maps and CD.
“Toorak Tractor” Looks Rubbery!
The expression “Toorak Tractor” is
a colloquial one used to describe 4WD vehicles belonging to owners
who do not take their vehicles off the bitumen. With the growth in
sales of 4WD vehicles over recent years it is important from a
tourism management perspective to assess whether there is a cohort
of owners who may be unwilling to take their vehicle off-road. Such
owners may require a different range of drive-tourism experiences
and products to attract them to desert areas. At the Sydney show,
the On Track team asked around 200 attendees some questions about
their reasons for owning a 4WD vehicle and whether they take it
off-road. The responses suggest that the Toorak Tractor market may
be less prominent than is anecdotally believed. See a snapshot of
the results here.
Gathering the Knowledge Gathers
Pace
A rapidly expanding group of people with knowledge and information
which can benefit the On Track project have joined our Knowledge
Community. Realising the vision of a sustainable 4WD tourism
industry in desert areas will require the collection and analysis
of a wide range of information about people, places and
experiences. That information is currently stored in many forms by
many organisations and individuals. For example, your organisation
may know about where 4WD tourists like to travel and may be able to
provide us with records of tour trip itineraries, emerging
'hotspots' and so on. The Knowledge Community is the place where
people with an interest and a contribution come together.
Members of the Community receive regular reports on different
aspects of the project and the knowledge that the research team is
building up. You can use this knowledge to help in your own
business or community context. To find out more check out the
Knowledge Community page.
Brisbane 4WD’ers highly 'FIT'
With the help of HEMA Maps, a survey of people attending the
National 4X4 Show in Brisbane revealed that Free and Independent
Travellers (FITs) are prominent in the 4WD tourism market. By
contrast, only 9% of attendees said they belong to a 4WD club or
association. A summary report from the Brisbane Show is available
from our Reports and Presentations page.
4WD Enthusiasts Reveal What Motivates Them!
Two focus groups were recently held in the headquarters of 4WD
Victoria to gain an understanding of what motivates enthusiasts,
what types of trips and environments are preferred, and what some
of the issues are for club members. It was a great experience for
the research team, led by Professor Bruce Prideaux from James Cook
University. A brief report on the findings can be accessed
here.
Wandin Show Survey Collects Valuable Baseline
Data
With the kind support of the Land Rover Owners Association of
Victoria and a dedicated group of volunteer interviewers, a survey
of Victorian 4WD Show attendees was recently undertaken. Questions
about the number and types of trips people have taken recently,
their methods for planning trips and their dedication to modifying
their vehicle were asked. A snapshot report from the Wandin show is
available from our Reports and Presentations page.
