Michael Hughes

The twin goals of the Ningaloo Destination and Data Modelling (NDDM) project are: to develop a dynamic model of Ningaloo incorporating socio-economic, and load implications of tourism that can be integrated with an ecological model of the region; and to effectively engage with stakeholders to build both trust in the model and group learning between researchers and stakeholders with respect to regional tourism planning and governance. Drawing its methodology from mediated modelling, which developed within learning organisations theory, and sustainable tourism planning, the NDDM project is engaging with stakeholders through public workshops, meetings and disseminating information through newsletters and the regional media. The finished model will be used by regional managers (in particular DEC, DPI and the Shires) to input into land and resource use decisions and by all stakeholders including community groups, the shires and the tourism industry, to collaboratively assess and discuss tourism planning in the region. The NDDM project is gathering primary data through surveys of visitors, residents and accommodation providers, and is engaging with other research projects, industries, and public agencies to gather and share secondary data. To date, the three most significant research outcomes are: four collated tourism scenarios for the region; the results of initial visitors surveys; and an early prototype of the Ningaloo Destination Model, that assesses the effects of changing the visitor mix on activities and accommodation demand in different subregions.

In the last decade there has been increasing emphasis on the use of voluntary tools such as corporate environmental reporting (CER) and environmental management systems (EMS). However there has been relatively little research on the impact of these tools on the actual environmental performance of corporations. At IAIA ‘02 we presented the findings of a survey of 40 companies operating in Western Australia to determine the extent to which the implementation of voluntary tools has influenced corporate environmental performance. That research was undertaken using ‘perceptual measurement’ as reflected by the views of company executives. During 2003 we revisited the previously surveyed firms, and undertook ‘archival measurement’ to determine the degree of accuracy of the original survey. The archival measurement process sought objective evidence of statements made in the original work. Overall, the results were roughly comparable, regardless of the way in which evidence was collected. We also found that the influence of voluntary instruments was not as strong in practice as the existing literature suggests it should be. We found that most respondents believed that EMS had influenced environmental management practices to some extent. On the other hand, CERs were seen more as a public relations exercise and had less impact on company practices compared to EMSs. Other factors that influenced corporate environmental performance included company size, level of experience with environmental management, and level of corporate and financial support for environmental self-regulation programs within the organisation.