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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report represents a very useful review of data available on visitor
use of the Great Barrier Reef, with emphasis on information contained
in databases of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Prior to
the introduction of the Environmental Management Charge (EMC) in July
1993, data available on tourism use of the Reef were limited and patchy;
the requirement for operators to provide logbook returns recording their
use of the Marine Park has led to a great improvement in recording and
understanding use of the area for commercial tourism.
This report provides an overview of the various databases containing
information on visitor use of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and
has developed into a manual invaluable to researchers wishing to understand
and gain access to these databases, particularly the Data Returns Database
containing the EMC returns data. The examples and analyses included here
provide an excellent illustration of the range of information available,
and the limitations of the database in its current form.
The report also includes some very worthwhile recommendations regarding
improved management and access to the databases, and verification of the
data. Some of these suggestions are currently being addressed and it is
hoped that all of them will be pursued. Although certain legal constraints
must continue to apply to access and use of data where issues of privacy,
freedom of information and commercial confidentiality are concerned, wider
access to the data is to be encouraged, and will facilitate research and
analysis of benefit to Marine Park management agencies and stakeholders.
THIS PUBLICATION IS CITED AS:
Valentine, P.S., Newling, D. & Wachenfeld, D. (1997)
The Estimation of Visitor Use from GBRMPA Data Returns
Technical Report No. 16
Townsville; CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd, 54 pp.
ISBN 1 876054 57 3
A full copy of this report may be obtained from the author(s),
and through the following libraries:
Agency libraries: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority,
Townsville; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville; James
Cook University, Townsville; Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
(Brisbane and regional offices); Queensland Department of Environment
and Heritage (Brisbane and regional offices); CSIRO Division of Marine
Research, Tasmania.
Public libraries: Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania and South
Australia State libraries; National Library, ACT.
Parliamentary libraries: Queensland, New South Wales and South
Australia parliamentary libraries.
For a hard copy (or pdf file) of the report contact CRC Reef on info@crcreef.com.
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