Minimising Tourism Impact on the Great Barrier Reef a Partnership Approach

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Minimising Tourism Impact on the Great Barrier
Reef a Partnership Approach Andrew Skeat,
Executive Director
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Overview

• Context
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park tourism
• Management Framework
• The Partnership Approach

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What is our job?

• Establish and manage a marine park
• Protection, wise use, understanding and enjoyment

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Context - pressures
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Great Barrier Reef Tourism

• Tourism is the major commercial use
• 5.1 billion tourism industry
• Approx 54 000 jobs (Access Economics 2005)
• 1.9m tourism visits per year

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Value of Industries
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Great Barrier Reef Tourism

• All tourism managed
• 840 permitees and 1500 vessels
• Cairns/Whitsundays focus
• Environmental Management Charge
• Tourism is a sustainable use

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Historical context
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A range of activities
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GBR Visitor Days
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Sustainable Tourism

• Operators must abide by
• The Act, the Regulations
• the Zoning Plan
• Plans of Management (limits on type, number and
  capacity, booking system)

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Sustainable Tourism

• Joint Agency approach
• Tourism operators must
• Have Marine Parks permit
• Follow site arrangements
• communicated via Onboard

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OnboardThe Tourism Operators Handbook for the
Great Barrier Reef
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Managing in Partnership

• Based on common goals
• Management gets
• Presentation of Reef
• Advice and support
• Money
• Industry gets
• A healthy reef
• Commercially responsive management
• A say in management

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Encouraging Best Practice

• Certification
• Business Incentives for High Standards
• Codes of conduct
• Operator training and education
• Eyes and ears of the reef

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Encouraging rewarding high standards

• Benefits to certified operators
• Longer term permits
• Showcasing
• Strong interest
• 30 operations, 52 products
• One third of visitors

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Promoting High Standard Operators
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Conclusion

• We are committed to partnership
• Both need the Reef
• Tourism a key performance Indicator