\u27Walkabout Tourism\u27: Is there an Indigenous Tourism Market in Outback Australia?

Outback areas of Australia account for much of the landmass with just 5% of the population, many of whom are Indigenous Australians. Despite tourism being an important industry for Outback economies, it has declined in recent decades prompting a search for new and expanding tourism markets. While Indigenous tourism in the form of visits to Indigenous communities, attractions and sites to obtain the Indigenous ‘experience’ has been pursued it has, along with other niche markets, delivered at best limited and isolated successes. But Indigenous people are themselves highly mobile, making frequent and regular trips away from home. In the past these trips were labelled in a derogatory way as ‘walkabout’. The characteristics of these trips posit them firmly within accepted definitions of tourism but, excepting one study on homelessness, there is a vacuum in research on the potential of people ‘on the move’ as a tourist market. Consequently, we do not know the potential size or characteristics of the market, an awkward contradiction given the historical focus on generating tourism at places where Indigenous people live. This study is the first to analyse data for Outback areas from the perspective of providing baseline information about that market. While results are mixed in terms of the potential to support a flailing tourism industry, this study finds that Indigenous people on the move should not be ignored

Remarkable Lives: Rachel Taylor in conversation with Jerome Carson

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Rachel Taylor. Design/methodology/approach – Rachel provides a short biographical account and is then interviewed by Jerome. In her biography she discusses her search for happiness and belonging. Findings – Rachel talks about focussing on what we are good at, what we love and how discovery can ignite that spark of hope that there can be better than what has gone before. Research limitations/implications – Rachel’s story shows the potential that lies not just within some of us, but all of us. It is but one story, but its message is sure to touch many. Practical implications – How do services promote hope and build resilience and wellbeing? While another service user said recovery was about “coping with your illness and having a meaningful life,” (McManus et al, 2009), services have perhaps focussed too much on symptom reduction and not enough on helping people find meaning and purpose. Social implications – Rachel asks the question is Positive Psychology a movement for all or is it just for the elite? Originality/value – Rachel is someone who has discovered for herself the benefits of Positive Psychology. Hopefully her own discovery will lead to her bringing this promising approach to people with mental health problem

Four wheel drive tourism and economic development opportunities for remote areas

Desert areas account for around 70% of Australia’s landmass but are home to less than 3% of the population. The economies of many desert areas have been described as marginal or peripheral. Tourism is an important economic activity for desert destinations and one sector, four wheel drive tourism, has been gaining increasing attention. This paper examines the spending patterns of four wheel drive visitors to desert regions of the Northern Territory of Australia and compares them to non-four wheel drive leisure visitors for a five year period from 2000 to 2004. In addition to assessing the amount of expenditure (overall and per day), the research investigates whether there were differences in expenditure items and the dispersal of expenditure among destinations. This information can help inform decisions about levels of investment for attracting the four wheel drive market which might be justified, and the types of product opportunities that might arise from a growing market

The epidemiology of cataract: a review of the literature

Cataract is a major cause of blindness, accounting for nearly half of all blindness worldwide. Epidemiological research provides the principles and methods to assess the extent of cataract, and supplies the necessary information for policy planning. Obtaining accurate epidemiological data on cataract is essential to ascertain and estimate the cost of primary and secondary eye health care needs. Determining risk factors is also necessary to reduce the economic and social repercussions associated with the disease. The following paper presents a review of the epidemiology of cataract in the middle to elderly age group