Tourism Activities within the Australian Great Barrier Reef - Essay Example

AUSTRALIAN GREAT BARRIER REEF Table of contents Executive summary 2 Introduction 3 Definition of terms 3 Stakeholders 4 Analysis 6 Pollution 7 Fishing 7 Shipping 8 Recommendations 8 Conclusion 8 References 10 Executive summary This article presents a discussion of tourism activities within the Australian Great Barrier Reef, which is fundamental component of Australian tourism sector. As a world heritage region, the region is comprised of numerous stakeholders who are involved in ensuring that tourism is part of the sustainable activities in the region. The article discusses the roles of each of the many stakeholders involved within the regions. Issues arising from the co-existence of these stakeholders within the region are also contained within this report. In seeking to enhance the aspect of sustainable tourism within the region, the article presents recommendations on how the stakeholders could become actively involved in enhancing sustainability of tourism activities within the region. Introduction The Australian Great Barrier Reef (GBR) stretches over 2,600 kilometres, including over 2, 900 individual reefs and more than 900 coral island, making it the largest coral reef in the world (Bennett 1971). The GBR becomes a major tourist attraction site in Australia and tourism activities within the region generate more than $3 billion annually(Access Economics 2007). This makes the region an important part of Australias tourism. The tourism activities within this region involve numerous stakeholders who work together for the sustainability of the tourism activities. The continued support of the stakeholders therefore, remains essential in ensuring the tourism activities remain beneficial to the communities around the regions and the country in general. The GBR region receives more than 1.6 million visitors, and generates about 63,000 job opportunities for various professionals (Australian Government 2013). The various stakeholders involved within the region have different roles in contributing to sustainable tourism within the region. Definition of terms The following terms, have the following meaning as used within the context of this report Sustainable tourism – attempt to ensure tourism activities present minimal environmental and cultural impacts, while maximising the benefits of these activities like creation of jobs Stakeholders – these are the different parties who have interests within the GBR and have a fundamental role in GBR. Stakeholders There is a large number of stakeholders within this region due to the expansive coverage of the region. The stakeholders within this region can be divided into major stakeholders and minor stakeholders. The major stakeholders are presented by the organisations and other interest parties with a massive interest upon the region. The minor stakeholders are small organisations and groups which provide support to the major stakeholders. The table below shows the various major and minor stakeholders and their roles in the region. Major stakeholders Stakeholder Roles Australian government Adoption of environmental policies regarding protection of the environment, through the department of environment. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) Ensuring the sustainable use of the coral and helping in the protection of the coral. The agency also coordinates the other stakeholders involved within the region Queensland government Enforcement of the regulations presented by the Australian government regarding environment within the region Tourism and Recreation Reef Advisory Committee (TRRAC) Advising the authority on different matters regarding the sustainability of the tourism activities and implementation of policies in strengthening tourism within the region. Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators (AMPTO) Continuously monitoring the reef and presenting methods of improving the ecosystem and the tourism activities The Aborigines These are the natives of the region who’s spiritual and cultural beliefs are based on the GBR. Minor stakeholders NGOs They perform different support activities like supporting local entrepreneurs to creates successful tourism operations Hotels These provide accommodation and other services to the visitors of the region(Henzel 2011) Tour operators They provide various services like guides, transportation to the visitors within the region Visitors These people form a fundamental element of the tourism activities by bringing in income to the people working within the region The stakeholders identified above have fundamental roles in the sustainability of tourism activities within the GBR region, of Australia. The various stakeholders work in close relationship with one another in ensuring sustainable operations within the regions. Coordination of the various tourism activities within the region remains the role of the GBRMPA (Australian Government 2014). This agency is the leading stakeholder representing the governments, while ensuring the other stakeholders undertake their activities in regard to the different policies and regulations. Communication between the stakeholders The major stakeholders are commonly involved in the provision of various regulations seeking to enhance the social welfare of the region. Many of the policies implemented aim at streamlining operations undertaken by the minor stakeholder within the region. The governments of Australia and Queensland are involved in the establishment of policies and regulations regarding tourism operations and also environmental impacts of these operations (Madin & Fenton 2004). As a government agency the GBRPMA, enforces these regulations and overlooks the operations of other stakeholders within the area to make certain they act in accordance with the provisions of the regulations. The other major stakeholders; TRRAC, AMPTO and the Aborigines, are directly involved in the operations of the minor stakeholder. They represent the various interests of the minor stakeholder to the regulating authorities to ensure the welfare of the minor stakeholder is upheld. Tour operators, who are minor stakeholder, for example, might present their concerns to AMPTO, which would communicate these concerns to the GBRMPA. The GBRMPA would then undertake an analysis of the concerns and provide feedback to the governments and the other major stakeholders within the region. Analysis The GBR region has numerous stakeholders who are involved in ensuring sustainability of the tourism operating occurring within the region. These stakeholders commonly work together in identification of ways for improving the ecosystem while ensuring continuity of the tourism activities within the region (Zeppel 2012). Despite their existence, conflicts affecting the area continue to threaten tourism activities within the regions. The activities of the various stakeholders have resulted in different challenges within the regions Pollution Farming activities by the aborigines communities have been identified as presenting significant pollution to the rivers which drain their water into the region (Haynes & Michalek-Wagner 2000). The fertilizers utilised in the farming lead into massive growth of algae limiting the oxygen levels within the ocean water (Wilkinson et al. 2013)(Haynes et al. 2000). This pollution has contributed to the decline in the quality of water at the coral, which threaten the existence of the marine life within the region (Hopley et al. 2007). The GBRMPA plays a fundamental role in controlling of pollution which results from industrial dumping. The organisation is commonly involved in undertaking impact assessment, together with the department of the environment, of the various factors relating to dumping activities. Early in 2014, the agency approved dumping of dredged sediments into the region seeking to create a coral port (BBC 2014). Interest groups consisting of people from the general public have played a fundamental role in seeking to protect the region from policies which might present risk to the marine life (Walker 2009). Some of the dumping permits which were issued by the re regulating stakeholders have been perceived by others as presenting a significant harm to the ecosystem of the coral. Fishing The region of GBR contains a rich variety of fish species residing within the water surrounding the area (Randall et al. 1997). Fishing activities have continuously become rampant within the region. Fishing remains one of the economic activities of the residents of the region. Overfishing within the regions remains a threat to the marine life within the region. The hotels operating within the region commonly purchase fish form the local community members and this worsens the problem of overfishing within the region. Shipping This is the movement of vessels within the waters of the region which results in pollution of the water. The tour operators commonly use small boats to take tourists into the coral reef section. Oil spillages have been an increased concern following accidents occurring during these activities. Fishing vessels within the region also present similar environmental impacts following oil spillages. The wreckages of the ships also present biological hazard to the ecosystem of the coral. The government of Australia has played a fundamental role in ensuring shipping activities become controlled through prosecution of individuals found guilty of offences resulting in oil spillages (Wilson 2012). Recommendations The Great Barrier Reef region presents a significant tourist destination, with fundamental economic impact upon the country. The various conflicts experienced between the stakeholders must be analysed and addressed effectively for the sustainability of tourism within the region (Harriott 2002). The following recommendations could provide significant improvements towards enhancing sustainable tourism in the region. The government should ensure extensive consultations with the minor stakeholders during the policy formulation stages of various policies affecting the region. The minor stakeholder should become sufficiently informed about the necessity and process of protecting the coral in enhancing sustainable tourism activities. Communication methods between the various stakeholders should be enhanced, to increase information sharing. Conclusion The Great Barrier Reef of Australia presents a unique trait which has been acknowledged as a heritage site (Bowen & Bowen 2002). This region presents unique tourist attraction sites which result in an increased number of visitors, reaching over 1.6 million annually. The earning from these tourism activities further make the region become increasingly significant in the Australian tourism sector (Scott et al. 2008). The sustainability of tourism activities within the region involves numerous stakeholders undertaking different roles. The various activities undertaken by the stakeholders commonly result in some negative effects on the ecosystem as well as positive elements. The various negative elements must be addressed in seeking to enhance the sustainability of tourism activities within the region(Biggs 2011). This includes enhancing and closely integrating the activities of the different stakeholders to ensure continued sustainability of tourism within the region. 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Available at: http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/reef-ship-collision-brings-prison-term/1599364/. Zeppel, H., 2012. Climate change and tourism in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Current Issues in Tourism, 15(3), pp.287–292.  Read More