Note: Some of the material contained in this chapter is out of date and currently under review (1/7/2004)

Overview

Tourism is the largest commercial activity in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP), generating up to A$4.2 billion per annum (see Chapter 4 of the Industries, Land Use and Water Quality in the Great Barrier Reef Catchment Research Report released by the Productivity Commission in February 2003). The marine tourism industry is a major contributor to the local communities along the coast of the GBRMP and the Australian economy. It is estimated that private recreational use on the GBRMP contributes at least an additional $240 million (Productivity Commission 2003).

There are approximately 730 permitted tourism operators with 1500 vessels and aircraft permitted to operate in the GBRMP.

Since initial establishment of the GBRMP in 1975, tourism on the Reef has transformed from some small operators in regional centres to a multi-billion dollar industry focussed offshore from Cairns, Port Douglas and in the Whitsundays. The marine tourism industry is very diverse, offering a wide range of products, from day trips, to cruise ships, sail-your-own yachts or kayaking in coastal areas.

There are approximately 730 tourism operators with 1500 vessels and aircraft permitted to operate in the GBRMP. The overall number of visitors on commercial tourism operations has been relatively stable since the mid-1990s, with approximately 1.8 million visitor days in 2001.

Private recreational use of the GBRMP is focussed on recreational fishing. There is limited information on the number of recreational visitors or their patterns of use.

Management of tourism and recreation in the GBRMP is focussed on ensuring ecologically sustainable use of this outstanding natural area. Management by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) is conducted in partnership with the marine tourism industry and relevant governments agencies, especially the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS). In general, tourism operators demonstrate a strong commitment to protecting the GBRMP, as it is fundamental to their business future.

Current Status

Tourism on the Reef

Diving is a popular activity for tourists visiting the GBRMP.

There is a diverse range of tourism operations in the GBRMP. These include:

• day tours, often to a permanently moored pontoon adjacent to a coral reef
• overnight and extended tours
• diving and fishing charters
• long range roving tours
• aircraft or helicopter tours
• bareboats (self-sail)
• cruise ships
• beach hire
• watersports
• passenger ferries

The tour vessels used by operators range in size from small sailing vessels, which typically take fewer than 20 people, to the large wave-piercing catamarans, which carry up to 400 people. There are also an increasing number of cruise ships visiting the GBRMP, with bookings to cruise ship anchorages increasing from about 200 in 2000, to nearly 600 in 2002.

Around 40 per cent of Great Barrier Reef tourists are serviced by the 10 largest tourism operations. Destinations include coral reefs, continental islands and coral cays. Over 85 per cent of visitors go to the offshore Cairns, Port Douglas and Whitsunday areas that make up less than ten per cent of the GBRMP.

In Cairns and Port Douglas, the tourism industry focuses on day visits to pontoons and moorings and extended diving and fishing charters to offshore reef destinations. There are also aircraft and helicopter overflights. The Whitsunday operations focus largely on visiting resorts and island bays. Australia’s largest bareboat yacht fleet operates in the waters around the Whitsunday Islands.

An audit of the use made of tourism permits during the year 2000 demonstrated that a large number of permits were rarely used. Of the approximately 1500 permitted vessels and aircraft in the GBRMP, only 40 per cent were used more than 50 days in that year and 45 per cent were not used at all. This potential, or non-use, of tourism permits is known as ‘latency’. The amount of latency was higher in the less popular regions of the GBRMP, although still significant in the Cairns Area and in the Whitsundays.

Visitors to the Reef

International, national and regional visitors are drawn to the Great Barrier Reef and for many of them the tourism fleet is their primary means of experiencing the Great Barrier Reef and learning first hand about its World Heritage values.

For many visitors to the GBRMP the tourism fleet is their primary means of experiencing the Great Barrier Reef.

For those visitors accessing the Great Barrier Reef on a commercial tourism operation (tourists), their reasons for visiting include wanting to learn more about nature and experience its beauty, looking for relaxation and pursuing exciting activities. 

The Cooperative Research Centre for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (CRC Reef) has undertaken comprehensive surveys of reef tourists since 1995 to establish baseline knowledge of the visitors to the Great Barrier Reef and examine changing patterns of reef tourism.

Reef tourists can be grouped in three main categories:

• “First time – potential enthusiasts” who have an active interest in nature.  They seek variety in the locations visited and activities undertaken and are concerned about impacts on the environment. 
• “Reef enthusiasts” who are seeking different nature-based experiences in their repeat visits and are concerned with the perceived quality of the natural environment. 
• “Once in a lifetime” visitors who are Australian families and older couples, less interested in active nature-based pursuits but possibly attracted by the iconic image of the Great Barrier Reef.

About half of the tourists visiting the GBRMP are international visitors.

There is little information available about the characteristics of private recreational visitors to the GBRMP. Research on recreational fishers shows that they are mostly male and rarely younger than 30 years old.

Changes in overall numbers:

The number of visitors carried on commercial tourism operations in the GBRMP is presented in the graph below, along with a breakdown of visitors to the Cairns Area and the Whitsundays. Tourism numbers have been relatively stable since 1994. The minor decline in 1997/98 is attributed to the Asian economic crisis. In 2001, the Cairns area recorded a notable increase, which is attributed to post-Olympic interest in Australia. There has been a 43 per cent increase for the Whitsundays since 1996. 

Preliminary figures for 2002 indicate that international events such as terrorism have affected international visitor numbers, but may have also contributed to increased domestic tourism. In 2003, outbreaks of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the conflict in Iraq appear to have caused a decline in international tourist numbers but the extent of this decline and its effects have not yet been assessed.

Since 1995, there has been a fall in visits to the GBRMP by vessels greater than 100 passengers, steady growth in the 51-100 passenger category for Cairns and major growth in the 16-50 passenger category in the Whitsundays. 

The extent of private recreational use of the GBRMP cannot be so accurately quantified. However, based on recreational vessel registrations in adjacent coastal communities, it can be assumed that private recreational use of the GBRMP is increasing gradually.

Trip satisfaction:

Tourists who visited the Reef in 2001 and 2002 reported high levels of overall satisfaction with their reef experience. Eighty–five percent of visitors gave their trip a rating of 8 or higher out of 10, with an average visitor satisfaction of about 8.7. Features of the reef trip that were rated highly for satisfaction included staff knowledge and friendliness, tour facilities, water quality, fish, coral, other marine life and information about the tour and about the reef generally.

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