News
Travel
Great Barrier Reef: Australia may see a decline in number of tourists if bleaching continues
22 Jun 2016, 01:58 pm
Canberra, Jun 21 (NITN): Canberra-based think tank, The Australia Institute (TAI), in a report published on Monday said that Australia's tourism industry will see a fall in visitors if severe coral bleaching continues on the Great Barrier Reef.
Surveys conducted by TAI among Chinese, UK, American and domestic tourists have revealed that tourism areas adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef risk losing over 1 million visitors per year, worth over $1 billion in tourism expenditure. This expenditure supports around 10,000 tourism jobs in regional Queensland, which are also considered at-risk.
According to media reports, the Great Barrier Reef, a natural wonder, is facing its most severe bleaching on record, with nearly 22 per cent of its coral, mostly in its northern sections, having died.
The report warned that while many potential visitors will seek out other Australian attractions, this research finds that many will choose to not visit Australia at all. Based on polling of China, UK and USA, almost 175,000 people each year from these countries are more likely to visit a country other than Australia if bleaching persists.
“While there has been lots of talk about the potential tourism impacts of coral bleaching, this is the first time anyone has gone to our key tourism markets and asked them what they might do if we aren’t able to better protect the reef,” Executive Director of The Australia Institute, Ben Oquist said.
And the conclusions are rather grim.
“The regions along the reef could lose a million visitors per year, billions in revenue and 10,000 jobs,” added Ben Oquist.
According to him, "the Queensland economy is modern and diverse. Four in five people work in service industries, while only 1 percent work in the coal industry. Policies such as a moratorium on new coal mines can be implemented with a minimal effect on the Queensland economy."
More News
- Newly launched booking site QuietHotelRooms.com helps travellers sleep better
- Air Canada to begin operations after flight attendants decide to end strike
- Kolkata gets its first direct Metro to airport; PM Modi set to open 3 game changing routes on Aug 22
- Air Canada flights remain grounded as striking union defies order to resume work
- Uber introduces Intercity Motorhomes as it expands to 3,000 routes in India
- High Commission issues advisory for Indians travelling to Malaysia
- Grand Egyptian Museum to open its doors on Nov1
- Aadhaar OTP now mandatory for online Tatkal train bookings
- PM Modi to launch Bengaluru Metro's Yellow Line, new Vande Bharat Express
- IndiGo slapped with heavy fine for providing ‘unhygienic, dirty seat’ to passenger
Air New Zealand to host one ...
Air New Zealand has announced plans to host a live inflight concert, ‘SYNTHONY in the Sky’, on Dec 4 aboard Flight NZ1331 from Auckland to Sydney.
Qatar Airways to commence o ...
Qatar Airways will move its New York operations to The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in 2026. As part of the relocation, the airline plans to open a 15,000-square-foot lounge, its first dedicated facility in both New York City and the United States.
Air Canada flights remain g ...
All Air Canada planes remained grounded late Saturday despite the Canadian government intervening to end a strike called by cabin crew members that resulted in hundreds of flights being cancelled and triggered chaos, media reports said.