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A permanent tourist camp at the Indigenous
community of Imintji. Communities like these receive indirect
income from tourism by sub-leasing infrastructure.
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THE relationship between landholders and tour operators form an
important element of successful tourism in the Kimberley—the
majority of tours take place on the vast pastoral stations of the
region, access to which is given by the landholders. Landholders
are also the principal suppliers of facilities and services.
New research by the CRC shows that this relationship is still in
pretty good shape—despite tour operator concerns over recent
years that access to properties had decreased.
A new CRC report, The relationship between landholders and
tour operators , does find however, that there were notable
changes between 1997 and 2004.
While access to some areas and services/facilities were lost,
new sites, services and facilities became available on
properties.
According to the report, tours to some pastoral leases ended for
a number of reasons including a re-focus on grazing, destruction of
facilities by flood, changes in ownership, and concerns over
liability and associated insurance. There was also evidence that
some tour businesses and their tour guides may not fully appreciate
the land tenure situation in the north Kimberley nor understand the
conditions and responsibilities under which landholders
operate—including lease conditions and the realities of
running a pastoral enterprise in a remote and variable
environment.
Limited hardcopies are available (contact the researchers
below); but you can also download the report free from the
Publications section of our website; link below.
