The Role of Tourism in the Economic Transformation of the Central West Queensland Economy

Title
The Role of Tourism in the Economic Transformation of the Central West Queensland Economy
Publication Date
2003
Author(s)
Sorensen, Anthony
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2457-3770
Email: asorense@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:asorense
Epps, William R
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Routledge
Place of publication
Australia
DOI
10.1080/00049180320000066164
UNE publication id
une:1
Abstract
Central West Queensland's predominantly pastoral sector experienced considerable hardship in the decade to 1996 as the consequence of drought and low commodity prices. The social and economic consequences were both large and spatially diverse. Those often remoter shires, characterised by few people and services, experienced sharp decline on both dimensions. In contrast, some of the larger and more accessible towns managed to stabilise or even increase both population and services, assisted by the development of the tourism sector. This, in turn, reflects the region's unique geographical character, features of which include strong historical associations, harsh and seasonably variable climate, vast distances, and sparse populations. Unsurprisingly, the tourist industry has been developed by small-scale local entrepreneurs, focuses on distinct market segments - especially the elderly and adventurous, and is highly seasonal.
Link
Citation
Australian Geographer, 34(1), p. 73-89
ISSN
0004-9182
Start page
73
End page
89

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