FEBRUARY 1996 NEWSLETTER

CAIRNS MARINE TOURISM INDUSTRY JOIN FORCES

Marine tourism industry associations in the Cairns region have joined together to plan for ecologically and economically sustainable development of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

The 10-year strategic plan, known as Reef Tourism 2005, will coordinate the needs of marine park tourist operators and marine park management. With assistance from the Far North Queensland Regional Development Network, the Douglas Marine Tour Operators Association, the Cod Hole and Ribbon Reef Operators Association, the Cairns Professional Gamefishing Association, and the Cairns Marine Tourism Operators Association, have secured $250 000 funding from the federal Department of Planning and Development to design the strategy.

With 895 000 passengers coming through the Cairns Section of the Marine in 1994-95 - about 65% of all visitors to the Reef's islands and reefs - many operators in the region have been concerned that existing management and industry systems are not keeping up with development.

Several groups, who formed their own associations in recent years, have now come together to better direct future developments for the Reef Tourism 2005 strategy, due for completion in mid-1997. Local operators will contribute an additional $50 000 cash and $110 000 in-kind support during the project. The CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd, GBRMPA and Q.DEH have also committed assistance and in-kind support to the value of $534 000.

The main objectives of Reef Tourism 2005 are to identify factors affecting the continued growth of the marine tourism industry to ensure long term ecologically sustainable development; to preserve and protect the industry's workplace and product; to provide recommendations for sustainable development and management of the Reef, endorsed by industry and regulator authorities, which allow for industry growth; and to assist the marine tourism industry achieve a greater degree of self regulation.

An office has been established at Trinity Wharf in Cairns for the project, with an adjoining shared CRC and GBRMPA office expected to open soon for visiting staff. CRC researchers working in Cairns are invited to call in to discuss their work and take advantage of the facilities.

page top | contents | next page