How many people visit the Great Barrier Reef each year?
There were over 1.9 million visitor days to the Marine Park in 2004 (not including passengers in transit). These include visitors from local and regional areas, interstate and international locations. Eighty five percent of visitors are concentrated in the Cairns and Whitsunday areas; which make up less than 10% of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

For further information see Environmental Management Charge.

How much money is generated by tourism on the Great Barrier Reef?
The Productivity Commission in its February 2003 report on the Great Barrier Reef estimated that the economic worth of tourism in the Great Barrier Reef catchment and lagoon is $4.3 billion per annum. Of this the GBRMPA estimates that approximately 1.4 billion is directly attributable to the marine tourism industry. The marine tourism industry is a major contributor to the local and Australian economy.

There is an Environmental Management Charge (EMC) payable by most Marine Park tourism operators which is usually based on A$4.50 per visitor per day’. This charge funds research, education and management of the Marine Park.

For further information see Environmental Management Charge.

What is being done to manage tourism in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park?
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has developed management tools to provide for the range of tourism and recreation opportunities throughout the Marine Park and to minimise the impacts of tourism and recreation activities on the fragile environment so that the diversity, integrity and productivity of the Reef is maintained.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority uses management tools such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Act and Regulations, Zoning Plans, Plans of Management and permit conditions. To manage tourism and recreation to ensure that activities and growth do not overwhelm the capacity of the natural resources or impinge on the enjoyment of a wide range of visitors.

Co-operative management with the tourism industry is becoming an increasingly important component of marine tourism management. This includes voluntary best environmental practices, industry codes of conduct, educational and interpretive programs for visitors, staff training, accreditation and involvement in monitoring programs.

For further information see Tourism and Recreation Management

What are the effects of tourism on the Great Barrier Reef?
Tourism has both positive and negative effects on the Great Barrier Reef. The positive effects include:

• education of visitors.
• increased community understanding about the marine environment and its management for sustainable use;
• operator involvement in direct management of some Marine Park tourism sites;
• contribution to management of the Marine Park through payment of the Environmental Management Charge; and
• significant contribution to local and national economies.
  

The negative effects can be ecological, social or cultural. However, the impacts of tourism often can’t be distinguished from those of other users of the Reef. In managing tourism use on the Great Barrier Reef, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is seeking to provide for a range of sustainable tourism and recreation opportunities and to minimise any potential impacts. Particular attention is given to:

• Protecting coral reefs and other habitats such as seagrass from anchor damage, poor diving practices, waste disposal, reef walking and collecting.
• Protecting nesting turtles and sea birds from disturbance.
• Protecting whales, dugongs and turtles from interference and vessel collisions.
• Preventing littering because some animals may mistake litter for food and others may get caught in litter such as ring pulls from cans of drink, or discarded fishing line.
• Respecting the cultural importance of the Great Barrier Reef to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
• Minimising conflicts in access within this multiple use Marine Park.

The Technical Report No 46 by CRC Reef summarises marine tourism impacts and their management on the Great Barrier Reef.

What causes crown of thorns starfish outbreaks?
The crown of thorns starfish (COTS) outbreaks on the Great Barrier Reef is a major issue which has generated great concern particularly amongst the tourism industry. The scientific community suggests there are three possible reasons for COTS outbreaks:

• Natural phenomenon
• Removal of predators
• Human use of the coastal zone increasing nutrient loads

For further information see the crown of thorns starfish theories on the CRC Reef Research Website.

The Reef tourism industry is working with government to control COTS at significant tourism sites.

What can people do to minimise damage to the reef?
It is important to be aware of the potential harm activities may cause to marine ecosystems. Best environmental practices are an agreed code of conduct developed jointly with the marine tourism industry designed to reduce human impacts on reefs and islands by promoting environmentally responsible behaviour in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, State Marine Parks and island National Parks. These practices are designed to complement legal requirements but have no legislative power. They are applicable to all users of the Reef. The GBRMPA encourages the tourism industry and recreational users to adopt Best Environmental Practices in all activities they undertake in the Marine Park to help protect the Great Barrier Reef. Some of the best environmental practices developed include: anchoring, bird watching, boating, camping, collecting, diving/snorkelling, dugong watching, island visits, fishing, moorings, motorised watersports, reef walking, turtle watching, waste disposal, whale and dolphin watching and yachting.

For further information see Best Environmental Practices.