Challenging tourism theory through integrated models: how multiple model projects strengthen outcomes through a case study of tourism development on the Ningaloo Coast of Western Australia

A collaborative modeling approach challenges traditional tourism development theories, demonstrating that tourism growth can be managed to avoid negative ecological and social impacts. The study, part of the Ningaloo Collaboration Cluster, integrated multiple models—including ecological indicators—to explore strategies for sustainable tourism on the Ningaloo Coast, a remote Western Australian region with delicate ecosystems and high visitor numbers. Unlike deterministic models like Butler's Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC), which link impacts to fixed stages of development, this research shows that adaptive management can mitigate adverse effects, preserving both environmental integrity and local community values.

(Ed.). (2011). Challenging tourism theory through integrated models: how multiple model projects strengthen outcomes through a case study of tourism development on the Ningaloo Coast of Western Australia. Chan, F., Marinova, D. And Anderssen, R.S. (Eds) MODSIM2011, 19th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation. https://doi.org/10.36334/modsim.2011.h3.jones