Conservation through partnership - A modern approach to sustainably managing tourism in the Great Barrier Reef

 presented by Mr Chris Briggs

Abstract:

Over the past eight years the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) has been forging a partnership with the marine tourism industry focussed on significantly improving environmental, cultural and business outcomes in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. This partnership is considered world’s best practice and earlier this year received recognition at the World Travel and Tourism Council in Lisbon Portugal through the awarding of their Destination Award.

As the largest coral reef system in the world and the largest World Heritage Area on the globe, it is no surprise that the Great Barrier Reef has become one of the most recognised international tourism icons. Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef is by far the most economically important industry annually contributing $6 billion to the Australian economy. Ensuring tourism operators and protected area managers work together implementing sustainable management arrangements is critical for the successful conservation of this vast area.

The primary goal of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) is “to provide for the long term protection, ecologically sustainable use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef through the care and development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park”. In pursuing this goal the GBRMPA has built a strong legislative base for managing tourism in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBR). Whilst this legislative base underpins sustainable tourism management arrangements, success stories in more recent years demonstrate working together in partnership with the tourism industry is a cornerstone for improving environmental outcomes as initiatives developed cooperatively with industry are more likely to engender long term change throughout the industry and industry practice.

With the common goal of a healthy reef in mind, the GBRMPA and the tourism industry now work side by side to protect the GBR, and improve the sustainability of industry. The tourism industry recognises that the strength of the industry relies on the quality of product it is presenting - that a healthy reef means a healthy industry.

This best practice approach of shared stewardship and responsibility for our natural assets is increasingly important as we move forward into a future where the GBR will be placed under greater pressure from impacts such as climate change and there is a need to continually improve environmental performance standards both inside and increasingly outside the Marine Park.

* * * * * * *