The Great Barrier Reef Tourism Management †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Great Barrier Reef-Tourism Management. Answer: Introduction The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest and most expansive natural coral reef in the world. It consists of more than 2,900 separate reefs and 900 islands which run over 2300 kilometres and covers an area o roughly 344,400 sq.km. Positioned off the coast of Queensland, the reef stretches along the coastline of the Coral Sea, in the north-eastern part of the Australian landmass. Hailed by CNN as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the reef remains one of the primary tourist attractions of Australia. Adding to the reefs appeal are the Whitsunday Islands, an archipelago of continental islands of different sizes, located off the coast of Queensland, adjacent to the reef. This article aims at analysing the tourism-business of the reef and finding improved policies while reducing environmental threats. Discussion: Tourism in the Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef boasts of great biodiversity, along with rare and endangered species like sea-turtles, porpoises, ascidians and about 1500 species of fish. This, along with clear warm waters and connectivity through tourist boats, enhance the tourism market of the reef, especially for scuba divers and nature enthusiasts. Several of the continental and coral islands have now been converted to resorts, like the Lady Elliot Island and the Green Island. As early as 1996, 27 of the islands on the reef supported resorts or had been converted into one (Coghlan, McLennan and Moyle 2016). The tourism industry centring the reef has seen greet progress and flourish in the past few decades. This in turn, has given a great impetus to local trade and commerce. The entire region hosts numerous smaller hotels, restaurants, shops, and boatyards which are both owned and manned by local businessmen and workers. Queensland Tourism in Monetary Terms During the early 1990s tourism was mainly conducted domestically and the visiting time was almost exclusively limited to the Australian winter. In 1996, the reefs financial exploits added up to about A$776 million per annum only. However, fast-forward to 2013, and the annual turnover of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has been reported to be grossing A$ 6.4 billion per annum, drawing in more than 64,000 tourists (Deloitte 2013). As a result, local businesses like transport, food and accommodation have received an unprecedented boost, augmenting the Queensland economy in particular and that of Australia in general. Besides tourists, Australian citizens from other states flock each year to the state looking for work, due to the numerous job openings, courtesy the Great Barrier Reef. Environmental Factors Due to its high pressure of both Australian and overseas tourists throughout the year, the Great Barrier Reef is subjected to adverse human activities which have, over the years, made progressive and irreversible changes to the natural ecosystem. The greatest threat to the reef comes in the form of climate change, which facilitates the process of coral bleaching. This results in increased vulnerability to diseases, disrupting the ecological balance and mass annihilation of endemic marine life forms. Pollution and practices like overgrazing and overuse of pesticides and fungicides have had detrimental effects on the coral beds and reports suggest that over 67% of the corals have died in the reefs northern region due to increased rates of pollution and run-off water (Robinson et al. 2016). Limiting nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium result in eutrophication uncontrollable growth of algae, which help deplete the levels of oxygen in the reef, thus eradicating marine flora and fauna (Bell, Elmetri and Lapointe 2014). Other human activities like mining, overfishing, shipping and disposal of toxic wastes have all had their adverse effects on the reef and the process continues to this day. Miscellaneous Factors and Measures Affecting Tourism Taking such serious threats into consideration, the Royal Commissions of the State of Queensland imposed a number of repressive measures on industrial activities like mining, fishing and touring in large vessels, while oil-drilling has totally been banned. In 1975, the Government of Australia incepted the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBMPA) to ensure that all bans and regulations are being adhered to (Morrison 2017). The GBMPA and the State Government of Queensland, along with local businessmen and workers have collaborated effectively to mitigate the environmental hazards that the reef and hence, a chief source of their income, is faced with. In July 2004, the Marine Park was rezoned to lesser affected areas and this process of rezoning has been globally acknowledged as a yardstick of marine ecology conservation(Coles et al. 2015). Conclusion To bring matters to a close, there is no denying the fact that the worlds largest coral reef and source of about seven billion dollars of annual transactions is faced with environmental issues, as grave as global warming or ozone-layer-depletion. he death of corals and loss of other marine life cannot be stopped all together, but what matters is how the trade and commerce of the region can cope with such imminent dangers. In that respect, the Australian public and private sectors have joined hands to great effect, although there is always room for improvement. References Bell, P.R., Elmetri, I. and Lapointe, B.E., 2014. Evidence of large-scale chronic eutrophication in the Great Barrier Reef: quantification of chlorophyll a thresholds for sustaining coral reef communities.Ambio,43(3), pp.361-376. Coghlan, A., McLennan, C.L. and Moyle, B., 2016. The best managed reef in the world, or a world heritage site in danger?: Applying conservation psychology to images of the great barrier reef.CAUTHE 2016: The Changing Landscape of Tourism and Hospitality: The Impact of Emerging Markets and Emerging Destinations, p.981. Coles, R.G., Rasheed, M.A., McKenzie, L.J., Grech, A., York, P.H., Sheaves, M., McKenna, S. and Bryant, C., 2015. The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area seagrasses: managing this iconic Australian ecosystem resource for the future.Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science,153, pp.A1-A12. Economics, Deloitte Access. "Economic contribution of the Great Barrier Reef." (2013). Morrison, T.H., 2017. Evolving polycentric governance of the Great Barrier Reef.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, p.201620830. Robinson, N., Brackin, R., Paungfoo-Lonhienne, C., Lonhienne, T., Westermann, M., Salazar, M., Yeoh, Y.K., Hugenholtz, P., Ragan, M.A., Redding, M. and Pratt, C., 2016, January. Addressing the nitrogen problem in sugarcane production to reduce pollution of the Great Barrier Reef. InInternational Nitrogen Initiative Conference. International Nitrogen Initiative.