Planning for island visitor use and expectations in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area

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1 Planning for island visitor use and expectations in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area Island Arks Symposium - Daydream Island 7 December 2009 Damien Head Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service 1

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4 Visitor Use - Background GBR related tourism makes a direct and indirect contribution of $5.1B to the Australian economy & supports employment positions 85% of visitor use occurs in less than 10% of the GBR marine park Whitsunday has the highest density of visitor use in GBR (in 1% of park) - > visitor days/year - 100% growth over ten year period at most popular sites e.g Tongue Point & Whitehaven Beach Increase in tourism related development marinas seachange 3

5 Visitor Use Management Environment Complex cross jurisdictional environment - National Park, State Marine Park, Commonwealth Marine Park, World Heritage Over 80% visitor through Commercial Tour Operators - largest density of commercial operators in the Queensland (>70+ in Whitsunday) - >2000 permitting transactions (reef wide) Diversity of visitor infrastructure km walking tracks, - 18 boardwalks - 15km public use road day use/camping areas - Reef protection program (128 moorings & 111 Reef Protection Markers) 4

6 Planning for Visitor Use Complementary management arrangements Determining sustainable levels of visitor use Ascertaining market demands - increase in adventure seekers - use demographics - marketing of iconic sites e.g. Hill Inlet Targeted investment - $3.5M in visitor facility upgrades in Whitsundays - completion of Whitsunday Ngaro Sea Trial Fostering stewardship amongst park users - park awareness training courses for tour guides - opening communication channels with industry and visitors Compliance Partnerships and best practise Community education Permits and licensing Site Management Arrangements Management Plans Legislation 5

7 Planning for Visitor Use Complementary management arrangements Determining sustainable levels of visitor use Ascertaining market demands - increase in adventure seekers - use demographics - marketing of iconic sites e.g. Hill Inlet Targeted investment - $3.5M in visitor facility upgrades in Whitsundays - completion of Whitsunday Ngaro Sea Trial Fostering stewardship amongst park users - park awareness training courses for tour guides - opening communication channels with industry and visitors 5

8 Planning for Visitor Use Complementary management arrangements Determining sustainable levels of visitor use Ascertaining market demands - increase in adventure seekers - use demographics - marketing of iconic sites e.g. Hill Inlet Targeted investment - $3.5M in visitor facility upgrades in Whitsundays - completion of Whitsunday Ngaro Sea Trial Fostering stewardship amongst park users - park awareness training courses for tour guides - opening communication channels with industry and visitors 5

9 The challenges A world class park providing world class experiences Being all things to all people - matching experiences with expectations Assist in providing opportunity for product diversity amongst operators Provide for a tourism industry resilient to climate change i.e. coral bleaching Killing the goose 6

10 The challenges A world class park providing world class experiences Being all things to all people - matching experiences with expectations Assist in providing opportunity for product diversity amongst operators Provide for a tourism industry resilient to climate change i.e. coral bleaching Killing the goose 6

11 The measure of success High levels of visitor satisfaction surveys (QPWS & GBRMPA) A resilient tourism industry exists and achieved through: - providing a diversity of landscape settings - allowing for a suite of visitor experiences (creating opportunities above and below water) Reduced social and user group conflict, particularly at high use sites Environmental impacts minimised (e.g..that threats to the GBR ecosystem associated with tourism activities have been significantly reduced and now considered to be generally low risk (and). a coordinated and professional management of tourism ensures a sustainable industry that contributes to marine park management and the economy Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report

12 Contact details: Damien Head Regional Manager Central Queensland Marine Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (07)