30 January 2007  

It’s the international tourism industry equivalent of the Oscars and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) has snagged a nomination.

The GBRMPA’s Sustainable Tourism Partnership initiative is one of only three finalists in the Destination Award in the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.

It recognises the environmentally sustainable marine tourism that has been achieved in the Great Barrier Reef through a highly successful partnership between the GBRMPA and Reef tourism operators.

GBRMPA Chairman Virginia Chadwick said the award confirmed the GBRMPA’s Sustainable Tourism Partnership, which involves working closely with tourism operators throughout the Great Barrier Reef, was among the world’s leading examples of best practice in sustainable tourism.

“Over the last five years the GBRMPA and the tourism industry have achieved a well-managed, sustainable industry and significantly improved environmental, cultural and business outcomes,” she said.

“The future well-being of the Marine Park and the tourism industry are closely linked, driving on-ground activities to protect the reef and provide a world-class tourism experience.

“We do this through a robust, consultative partnership with industry that encourages and rewards high standards and work with industry to monitor the health of the reef.”

Ms Chadwick said the internationally recognised icon attracted nearly two million tourists and 4.9 million recreational visitors each year.

“Sustainable tourism contributes to the conservation and management of the Marine Park and the flow-on effects of tourism are significant and widespread for adjacent coastal communities,” she said.

“Tourism based around the Great Barrier Reef generates 54 000 full-time jobs and contributes $5.1 billion to the Australian economy each year.”

The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards were set up in 1989 by the Federation of Tour Operators to encourage action from all sectors of the industry to protect the environment.

This year there were 130 applications from more than 40 countries in the four categories.

The next stage of the judging process is an on-site visit to collect additional information, with the awards ceremony taking place in Portugal in May 2007.

The Great Barrier Reef - Keeping it "great" through a sustainable tourism partnership

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), an Australian Government statutory authority, is charged with managing the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest UNESCO-recognised World Heritage Area and one of the world's most recognisable tourism icons.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (the Marine Park) welcomes nearly two million tourists and 4.9 million recreational visitors each year.

The Marine Park tourism industry is based on the iconic status of the Great Barrier Reef. The future well-being of both the Marine Park and the tourism industry are inextricably linked – a healthy Marine Park tourism industry will always need a healthy Great Barrier Reef to present to its visitors.

The increasing realisation of this interdependence has led to the development of a strong and active partnership between the GBRMPA and the Marine Park tourism industry. This partnership directly helps achieve a well-managed and sustainable industry as well as significantly improving environmental, cultural and business outcomes in the Marine Park.

Key outcomes of the partnership include:

• An increased focus by tourism operators on site stewardship, and the link between care and protection of the Marine Park with their business success
• Enhanced visitor experiences and understanding of Marine Park values
• A network of tourism sites monitored by tourism operators and crew, with information used in Marine Park management decisions and tourism interpretive programmes
• Increased on-water compliance reporting
• Higher standards of tourism operation in the Marine Park, with all certified high standard tourism operators gaining access to a wide range of benefits, including longer term operating permits (15 years compared to six years).