Tourism is a major industry along the coastline of the Great Barrier Reef and it contributes exponentially to both the Queensland and Australian economy.

Up to 2 million visits are made each year to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park by visitors using a tourism operation.

These visitors usually pay an usually pay an Environmental Management Charge (EMC). 

It is a way for you, as a visitor, to contribute to keeping the Great Barrier Reef great for future generations to enjoy.

The funds received by the GBRMPA through the EMC are vitally important in the day-to-day management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. 

It is used to monitor, manage and improve the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef with the money applied across all aspects of Marine Park management including:

• Education and research
• Ranger patrols
• Site planning
• Public moorings
• Reef protection markers
• Information signs and maps.

The standard charge per person per day is $5.50*, however tourists spending less than three hours in the Marine Park are only charged $2.75* each.

Exemptions and concessions also apply.The charge is collected by the tourism operator who then transfers the collected funds to the GBRMPA. If you feel you have been charged incorrectly for the fee please contact us.

A different scale of charges applies to other commercial operations. Please refer to the Environmental Management Charge Fee Schedule for full information.

* Prices correct as of 1 April 2010

Tourism operators also provide the GBRMPA with data on where they take their visitors on the Great Barrier Reef.

These visitation statistics greatly assist the GBRMPA and the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) in developing management arrangements for sustainable use of the Marine Park.