Janet Mackay
Director, TRC Tourism
Abstract
The Red Centre Ride: opportunities for visitors and Indigenous communities
The Red Centre Adventure Ride is a first for Australia. It will be an extraordinary three day easy mountain bike ride across the West MacDonnell Ranges in the centre of Australia with overnight accommodation planned in luxury camps. This paper will talk about the multiple benefits the trail experience will offer from concept to delivery for the traditional owners of the land and for visitors.
The paper will discuss the concept, planning and delivery and health, economic and social benefits to be delivered through the ride including a program of training of local Aboriginal people in the planning, design, construction and maintenance of the trail, and opportunities for its operation.
It will also talk about the critical importance of planning for the visitor experience as well as the physical infrastructure to make such a product a success.
Biography
Janet Mackay is the Director of TRC Tourism, a consultancy firm based in the Snowy Mountains with offices in Canberra, Alice Springs and Wellington in NZ. The company operates across Australia, New Zealand and beyond. Janet is well known as a leader in regional destination and visitor experience planning, as well as related infrastructure, product assessment and development . She is recognised in the industry for her extensive knowledge in the trail planning sector and how to improve a region’s community assets through outstanding planning. Janet works with many indigenous businesses across Australia.