The community impacts of different types of visitors: an empirical investigation of tourism in North-west Queensland

Abstract

This paper uses data from a survey of visitors to the Carpentaria Shire in Queensland, Australia to investigate some of the economic and environmental (predominantly fishing) impacts of different visitor segments. The results show that different types of visitor generate different economic and environmental impacts and that the current visitor mix contributes most (financially) to caravan parks and local stores while drawing heavily upon local fishing stocks. The paper argues that in the short to medium term it is paramount for the continued success of tourism to manage the recreational fisheries. In the medium to long term, a more diverse range of visitor types could generate larger regional economic benefits, a broader distribution of benefits, and less reliance on just one of the region's otherwise plentiful natural resources.