The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) is committed to being a world leader in environmental practice; doing this keeps us on our toes and ensures we continually look for better ways to manage and present the Great Barrier Reef today, and protect it for future generations.

One of the Tourism and Recreation Group’s objectives is to enhance the GBRMPA’s reputation as a leader within the field of tourism and recreation management. 

International Awards

May 2007 was an exciting time for the Tourism and Recreation Group as the world recognised its efforts as a leader in tourism management through the World Travel and Tourism Council’s ‘Tourism for Tomorrow Awards’. The innovative partnership between the GBRMPA and the Marine Park tourism industry was selected world-wide for the Destination Award and won. The Destination Award recognises the value of working with the tourism industry. The selection was based on the continued commitment to sustainable tourism management through the encouragement of high standard operations and responsible reef practices.   More...

National Awards

In November 2007, the Group received the TTF Australia Corporate Leadership Awards 2007 for Public Sector Management. The award recognises the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority for its outstanding work with tourism operators, communities, small business and governments in the sustainable management of the Marine Park, at a time of growing awareness of the threat posed by climate change to Australia's natural habitats.

In August 2006, the Group received the Minister's Achievement Award for Fostering Partnerships with the Tourism Industry to Deliver Environmental Outcomes from the Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Heritage. The Minister said the Tourism and Recreation Group set best practice standard for how Government and industry can work together to deliver good environmental and economic outcomes for Australia, and that the GBRMPA is recognised as the world leader for marine protected area management.

National Recognition

The Tourism and Recreation Group continue to show their commitment to leadership in the field of marine tourism management, through ongoing development of best practice and sustainable tourism management programmes and guidelines.

The world’s leading bodies in sustainable tourism management are profiling the GBRMPA’s innovative programmes in publications with an audience of government, industry, environmentalists and the community.

In July 2006, the GBRMPA’s ‘High Standard Tourism Programme’ was featured as one of only two case studies in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s publication, Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism Management Initiatives for APEC Economics.

In March 2006, the GBRMPA’s partnership approach to managing cruise shipping was the only case study in a document outlining the Australian Government’s position on cruise shipping development, the Revised Action Plan for the Development of the Australia Pacific Cruise Industry.  The case study, ‘Cruise Shipping Development in the Great Barrier Reef: Engaging stakeholders to foster sustainable cruise shipping growth in a World Heritage Area’, demonstrates to cruise industry leaders and protected area managers that a partnerhip approach to management can have practical, real-time benefits for both industry and the environment.

International Recognition and Case Studies

In February 2006, the United Nations Environment Programme recognised the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority as a world leader in sustainable tourism management by including an article on the High Standard Operator Programme, ‘Engagement with the private sector for sustainable tourism in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park', in the Report for Global Ministerial Environment Forum, Dubai, 7-9 February 2006.

In early 2006, Conservation International featured the GBRMPA’s approach to managing cruise shipping in their publication ‘From Ship to Shore: Sustainable Stewardship in Cruise Destinations’.  This publication profiles leading examples of how cruise industry stakeholders can play a role in ensuring a sustainable future for cruise tourism while maintaining the natural and cultural integrity of cruise destinations.

Related Links

• High standard operator programme
• Responsible reef practices