The Great Barrier Reef is Queensland’s greatest natural tourism advantage attracting almost three million visitors per year.
What attracts tourists to the Great Barrier Reef?
It is one of Australia’s most loved attractions, with over 100 beautiful islands dotted across the reef to explore. The snorkelling and diving opportunities are some of the best in the world, with rainbow coloured corals and an array of marine life to see up close.
Does tourism impact the Great Barrier Reef?
Tourism has been identified as a critical issue in the management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP). About 1.6 million tourists visit the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) region each year, and generate an income of over $1 billion per year in direct value.
Is the Great Barrier Reef a popular tourist destination?
Fact: The Great Barrier Reef is a popular tourist destination with over two million visitors each year. Fact: Tourism to the reef generates approximately AU$5-6 billion per year.
How many tourists visited the Great Barrier Reef in 2019?
Over 28 million tourists and other visitors arrived in Queensland between July 2018 and June 2019. This total includes 2.8 million international visitors and 25.3 million domestic overnight visitors.
Why Is tourism good for coral reefs?
Healthy coral reefs support commercial and subsistence fisheries as well as jobs and businesses through tourism and recreation. … Local economies also receive billions of dollars from visitors to reefs through diving tours, recreational fishing trips, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses based near reef ecosystems.
How is tourism a threat to coral reefs?
Physical damage to the coral reefs can occur through contact from careless swimmers, divers, and poorly placed boat anchors. Hotels and resorts may also discharge untreated sewage and wastewater into the ocean, polluting the water and encouraging the growth of algae, which competes with corals for space on the reef.
How many tourists visit the Great Barrier Reef each day?
Tourism visitation to the entire Great Barrier Reef Marine Park for the financial year ending 30 June 2021 was reported at 1,134,500 visitor days. This is a decrease of around 52% when compared to the previous 8 year pre-COVID average (2011-12 to 2018-19).
Is the Great Barrier Reef the biggest reef in the world?
More information. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef ecosystem on earth and one of the best managed marine areas in the world. At 348 000 square kilometres, the reef is one of the richest and most diverse natural ecosystems on Earth.