Project Description
Transport is one of the key enablers of tourism development and growth. The emerging innovations in tourism transport include micromobility (small, lightweight devices such as electric scooters or bicycles) and microtransit (on-demand and flexible public transport).
These can both can be integrated using Mobility as a Service (MaaS) – new business models that package different transport options and services together. This combination can be defined as “micro-transport”. It has great potential to improve connectivity and enhance tourism experiences, benefitting the environment and reducing congestion in tourist destinations. This fellowship seeks to introduce micro-transport to Queensland’s tourism sector partnering with two leading micromobility operators (Neuron, Beam), the Department of Transport and Main Roads, and local governments (Brisbane and
Townsville). Choice-based surveys will evaluate visitor preferences of new tourist products and bundles, including accommodation and attraction offers. Australia’s first tourist MaaS trials will be prototyped in Townsville and Brisbane. Tourism event feeds will be linked to transport operations in an Australian first. MaaS applications for sporting venues and/or the 2032 Olympics will also be explored. By stimulating tourism with micro-transport and MaaS solutions and improving tourist’s experiences, the project will transform Queensland’s tourism industry to be user-centric and seamlessly connected.
Project Personnel and Beneficiaries
Tourism agencies and operators, transport agencies, regulators and operators, IT providers, and, most importantly, real-world tourists and transport customers.
Outcomes to Date
Concepts for a Tourism-MaaS offer are developed, the necessary Ethics, survey protocols and more are approved, and the work is moving into identifying customers preferred packages, before building the tourism-MaaS app for testing.
Project Significance
The integration of sustainable transport modes to work in-concert is critical so they can compete with private single-occupant motoring, and other space-inefficient and unsustainable modes. Sustainable transport is also essential to developing sustainable tourism. Creating a seamless tourism + transport offer will help tourists make sustainable choices about their local transport options and make more use of walking, cycling, micromobility, and public transport.
Related Link
External link to https://experts.griffith.edu.au/7554-abraham-leung/grants