Tourism

Tourism in Outback South Australia is recognised as a major industry, and will continue to grow, particularly where partnerships develop between other major industries, as is the case with opal mining and tourism and pastoralism and tourism. Tourism and mining can work well together providing appropriate mechanisms are in places that prevent impingement on mining operations.

An improved relationship between tourism and pastoralism is emerging, brought about by two main factors. Reduced returns are encouraging diversification into tourism on some pastoral leases; on others, increased access to points of public interest is being facilitated, through an expanded Public Access Route program.

The economic viability of most Outback communities now depends on tourism rather than the industries that were the basis for their original development. A number of small centres have been established in the last twenty years specifically in response to the growing tourism industry in the Outback.

Values underpinning tourism development in Outback South Australia are that it must be economically, socially and environmentally sustainable and should contribute to the conservation of the State's Natural and Cultural Heritage.

First bulletin of the Port Augusta Tourism Industry Network  (121kB PDF)

Port_Augusta_Tourism_Industry_Network_Bulletin_October_06.pdf