The Wet Tropics Rainforest: Tourist perspectives on threats

Nature-based destinations rely on the pull of their environment to attract key market segments. It is therefore important to understand how perceived threats to environmental assets impact on visitation. The aim of this research was to explore tourists’ concerns about the Wet Tropics Rainforest in far north Queensland, specifically in relation to climate change. The preliminary findings indicate that when selecting a place to visit, the majority of respondents consider the level of protection of the environment and are concerned about the impact of climate change and other threats on the forest. These findings highlight the importance for destination stakeholders to understand the concerns of tourists and ensure these concerns are addressed.