Tourists' concerns with the state of the Great Barrier Reef

This research reports on concerns held by tourists about climate change impacts on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia and what implications this may have for coral reef dependent destinations such as Cairns. The findings showed a high level of concern (60%) that the GBR will become extinct in the next several decades, while 90% are worried about the future health of the GBR. Overall, the results point to a high level of concern about the GBR and pessimism about its future. These findings indicate a need to consider alternative tourism experiences, but Cairns appears to be locked-into a path that remains focused on the GBR. From a destination perspective, the research highlights the need to consider ‘next steps’ required to address the likely flow-on effects of a decline in the GBR, including building community resilience and identifying opportunities to develop alternative tourism strategies.