GBR Tourism Climate Change Action Strategy

Climate change represents one of the single biggest challenges facing the globe today.

For the Great Barrier Reef, climate change is a significant issue as the future health of the Great Barrier Reef and the sustainability of its tourism industry are inextricably linked and both are vulnerable to climate change. Research by Tourism Australia shows visitors from the key markets of the UK, China and Japan rank climate change in their top three issues of concern and importance in holiday planning. Through strong partnerships developed over many years, tourism industry leaders and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, working together as the Tourism Climate Change Action Group, have developed the Great Barrier Reef Marine Tourism Climate Change Action Strategy 2009-2012 (the Strategy).

Through a series of industry workshops, conferences, Great Barrier Reef Tourism & Recreation Reef Advisory Committee and TCCAG meetings (commencing in 2005 and involving national and international experts on climate change, tourism, insurance, and the Reef) the TCCAG defined and embraced a shared vision for responding to climate change. A Great Barrier Reef marine tourism industry that understands climate change and its impacts, is taking action to minimise its climate footprint, is business-ready to adapt to a climate change future, and is helping to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

The TCCAG has representation from across the Great Barrier Reef and currently consists of the following members:

• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA)
• Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC)
• Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators (AMPTO)
• Quicksilver Group
• Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort
• Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association (WCBIA)
• Tourism Queensland
• Ecotourism Australia
• Department of Environment and Resource Management

see map