Impact of Marine Health on Tourism Industry of Australia

This article discusses the impact of climate change on the marine ecosystem of Australia and its effects on the tourism industry. It highlights the steps taken by Tourism Australia and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council to address the degradation of marine health and promote sustainable tourism.

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Position Statement
Impact of Marine health on Tourism Industry of Australia:
The position statement is basically aimed at signifying the necessary goals that a plan or a
project aims to meet at its best.
The impact of climate change on the marine eco system of Australia has brought in a
series of challenges casting a devastating impact on the species, population, and community
levels in Australia, particularly in Tasmania and tropical northern Australia (Amelung and
Nicholls, 2014, pp.230.). There are varied species of fishes and marine creatures which are
already on the verge of extinction specifically due to certain human activity along with the ill
effects of climate change. Thus, these threating conditions have initiated Tourism Australia to
take immediate and stringent actions in checking the degrading condition of marine health in
Australia and employee tourist actions in checking these instances as well as developing the
scope of marine research and incorporating it as an essential element in the tourism activity
Thus the marine health of the country must be uplifted to promote marine industries
which include fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism along with safeguarding the iconic feature of
Australia’s natural diversity (Dunstan, et al. 2016). Thus Tourism Australia has joined hands
with Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) to provide a sustainable eco-tourism
developmental plan to bring a revision in the existing marine condition. Thus the basic objectives
that the policy issues will address will pertain to:
 Impact of marine research tourism in building up the marine ecosystem of Australia

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 Specifically highlight the essential steps in reducing issues like coral bleaching
 Significant contributions of Tourist to help build the marine eco system
 Aid received from Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) in implementing these
environmental measures
Background Context:
Need for conducting Background Analysis:
In order to device a tourism planning strategy it is very necessary to do a complete and
detailed background study and understand what are the significant issues that the country is
facing and what could be the necessary steps undertaken to address the same. Australia’s marine
biodiversity is considered as the worlds third largest stretched across 13.86 million square
kilometers (Wernberg, et al. 2013, p.78.). However the degradation of Australia’s marine eco
system is not a one day affair. Several natural as well as human factor of substantially
contributed towards this environmental degradation. The cycles of several natural climate
phenomena, including the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, the Indian Ocean Dipole and the
Southern Annular Mode has played havoc increasing the water temperature and leading to
massive bleaching of coral reefs loss of kelp forests, fish and invertebrate deaths, and changes in
species distribution in western Australian marine environments. Concentrating on the impact of
human activity particularly the threats that the tourism industry has brought along is tourism
recreational activities like over fishing or impact of other water sports like boating, diving,
snorkeling, surfing which leads to touching or kicking of coral reefs and disturb their natural
habitat as well as cause potential damage to theses rare species (Salic and Zelic, 2018). Thus,
these threating conditions have initiated Tourism Australia to take immediate and stringent

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actions in checking the degrading condition of marine health in Australia and employee tourist
actions in checking these instances as well as developing the scope of marine research and
incorporating it as an essential element in the tourism activity. The Global Sustainable
Tourism Council has also identified these environmental threats and have join hands with
Tourism Australia to better address these environmental challenges.
Moreover Tourism Australia also feels that there is wider and profitable scope in
developing potential tourism base through sustainable development measures that would attract
millions of international travelers and bring in the attention of various environmental protection
organizations who believe in safeguarding these natural treasures as well as raising necessary
funds to plan and employ policies in lieu of protecting these natural resources (Hsieh. and Kung,
2013 pp.658-665.). Now talking about the health of marine eco system of Australia the mention
of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is inevitable and also how fast this prized World Heritage area
is constantly threatened by various human activities and is constantly degrading where half of the
coral cover has already been lost with increasing amount of marine pollution, over fishing and
the threatening impact of global warming on the costs. Therefore there is a dire need to control
these threatening issues in an immediate and significant manner.
The Tourism Industry does have a direct impact on the environment in intends to operate.
The tourism industry takes resources from the surrounding environment and no doubt has a
strong dependence over the natural landscape to draw in sufficient revenue from the visitors.
Therefore the tourism industry needs to provide special emphasis on how these natural resources
can be safeguarded and maintained so that the future generation can also enjoy them equally
(Hendrikx, et al. 2013, pp.970). Thus a tourism environment plan specifically upholds the

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current threatening factors that might be affecting the overall environmental health of a region
and also addresses various strategic ways of dealing with theses environmental crisis. Therefore
this tourism policy will specifically highlights on the marine environment crisis that Australia is
currently facing with its unpredictable climate changes followed by costal erosions. Australia has
always been the land of tourist attraction also often known as the “land of dreams”. Australia is
also a land of staggering contrasts with a breath of spectacular beauty (Mason, 2015). Along the
coast, you can explore vibrant multicultural cities, vast sand islands, ancient rainforests, and one
of the planet's most awe-inspiring natural wonders - the Great Barrier Reef. In the Outback,
rugged national parks and red-earthed deserts offer the ultimate in adventure travel. Top it all the
amazing cuisines with a tribe of friendly people, it's no wonder Australia scores top billing on
bucket lists around the world.
Now specifically talking about the health of marine eco system of Australia the mention
of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is inevitable and also how fast this prized World Heritage area
is constantly threatened by various human activities and is constantly degrading where half of the
coral cover has already been lost with increasing amount of marine pollution, over fishing and
the threatening impact of global warming on the costs (Holden, 2016). Therefore there is no
doubt about the fact that tourism industry in Australia plays a very crucial component in
determining the overall financial health of the country as a large chunk of revenue is obtained
from this particular sector. Thus this tourism environment plan aims to identify and device a new
plan or policy that would specifically highlight on safeguarding the marine ecosystem of
Australia and how the Tourism industry can substantially work and contribute towards
safeguarding the marine environment. It would also analyze the impact of tourism on the marine
health of the country and what would be the exact scope and potential impact of the proposed

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plan on the marine ecosystem of Australia. A tourism environment plan needs to be substantiated
with appropriate strategic ideas that would help the plan to get transformed from idea to
execution. It is very necessary to first understand how human activities specially pertaining to
the tourism industry is significantly impact on the marine health of the Australian water bodies
and which in turn is affecting the overall tourism industry. Thus it becomes more like a vicious
circle which demands immediate attention and addressable of the same. Thus, through this
tourism environment plan major highlights are provided on the details of the plan and its process
of being implemented, the potential impact it holds on the marine biodiversity as well as on the
tourism business of Australia. Thus a tourism environment plan specifically upholds the current
threatening factors that might be affecting the overall environmental health of a region and also
addresses various strategic ways of dealing with theses environmental crisis
A statement of need:
Major stakeholders in operations:
Tourism Australia after conducting a through market research almost over 11 of
Australia’s key tourism market could understand what immense potentials the aquatic
and marine industry holds when it comes to attracting substantial amount of international
tourist to Australia. 70 per cent of our international visitors enjoy aquatic and coastal
experiences as part of their trip to Australia and rank Australia #1 for marine wildlife and
remote and developed coastal beaches and aquatic locations (Davidson, et al. 2013). As
already mentioned tourism is considered as a very significant component of building up
Australian Economy. The role of Australian government stands immensely crucial
helping the International Tourism Industry bring the necessary innovation and adapt to

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the changing demand of the tourists. The government also has a significant role to play
in terms of bringing positive reforms that would sufficiently benefit the tourist economy.
Attracting sufficient private sector investments, providing governmental aid in
international destination marketing and helping to uplift varied culture and
traditions (Griggs, et al. 2013, p.305) leading to cultural amalgamation and unit among
the natives and the tourists.
Another important mention would be regarding the Australia's international
aviation policy setting. Though the aviation service is quite strong yet the service is
expected to give better and increased access to the across major Australia’s gateway
cities like Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney along with easy and hassle free
processing of visa applications specially for visitors who are from key tourism markets
such as China (Morrison and Lockwood, 2014, pp.87.). The management framework in
some areas have substantially helped in reducing the risk associated with commercial
and recreational tourism activity. Another significant role that the Australian
Government plays in regulating the marine tourism industry is by setting certain
standards or guidelines of performance. Setting up certain computer-based modelling
tools to assist targets of regulation with assessment of climate lerchange risks and,
ensuring their compliance with adaptive management regulation (Biggs, et al. 2015).
These regulatory frameworks would specifically focus on the uncertainties associated
with climate change, including the location, nature, timing and severity of climate change
impacts or events that may occur. Finally, the framework will need to be compatible with
regimes that are currently in place for the regulation of infrastructure.

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Thus particularly focusing on policy approaches adopted by the government of Australia
specifically in the context of protecting the marine health include steps like:
 The Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan- Aiming to safeguard the marine
health which is indeed a response to the recommendation made by UNESCO
World Heritage Committee (Hughes, Day and Brodie, 2015, p.508).
 Reef Trust- this is a joint effort of both the Australian Government as well as the
private funds which specifically focuses on improving the quality of water and
costal habitat throughout the Great Barrier Reef and adjacent catchments.
 Safeguarding rare water species- this specifically aims at protecting the ionic
marine turtles and dugong in Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait
(Boulton, et al. 2014).
 Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan- the Australian and Queensland
governments have released the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan 2017-
2022 with the main intention of fighting against the degrading quality of water
The Great Barrier Reef is under pressure from many factors—one of which is the poor
quality of water running into it from adjacent catchments. The Reef 2050 Water Quality
Improvement Plan (formerly the Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection Plan 2013) has an
expanded scope and updated targets that would substantially provide a new level of specificity
(Kroon, et al. 2016, pp.57). The renewed five-year plan details how industry, government and
the community will continue to work together to improve the quality of water flowing to the
Great Barrier Reef. Through the Plan the government would be will able to measure the progress
being made against identified water quality values. The desired outcome of the Plan is that Reef

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water quality supports the outstanding universal value of the Great Barrier Reef, builds
resilience, improves ecosystem health and benefits communities.
Scope proposed Plan:
The proposed plan is intended to raise mass awareness among the tourist department
along with the tourists who visit the costal reefs for varied recreational activities to minimize the
degrading impact of their activity on the surrounding environment. The main scope and purpose
of these tourism environment plan is to build a sustainable tourism industry in Australia
(Basu, 2017, pp.74.) which would help in safeguarding the marine health of the country as well
as substantially support marine tourism. Therefore the basic considerations of the proposed plan
will include:
 Keeping a check on the encroachment of hotels and various recreational centers on
the coast line of Australia (Wood, 2017). Thus a sustainable approach towards promoting
eco-friendly infrastructure across the natural habitat of marine life will help in reducing
the disturbance of the marine habitat of the species.
 Significant control on operating cruise ships has adversely affected the marine
environment. Carrying up to 4,000 passengers and crew, these enormous floating towns
are a major source of marine pollution through the dumping of garbage and untreated
sewage at sea, and the release of other shipping-related pollutants (THANGARAJ, 2016).
Therefore Tourism Australia has appointed varied marine polices across these coats to
keep a check on these unacceptable tourist activities.

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 Utmost compliance with Sustainable Development Goals in reducing use of non-
renewable sources of energy (Byrnes, et al. 2013, pp.712) to manage the levels of
global warming in the atmosphere which plays havoc with the marine eco system
 Stringent action on minimizing and curbing the usage of plastic and plastic pollution
in the oceans
 Raising necessary funds from varied government department along with various
private sector
bodies to help apply
the corrective
measures in
checking the
damage that has
already taken
place as well as
controlling future damage actions.

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(LI, Tse, and FOK, 2016, pp.349)
The above presented diagram gives a detailed overview of how marine population is
getting so severe and the above tourism environment plan exactly works towards addressing
these issues in an urgent manner to help persevere the natural resources which are indeed the
most significant tourist attraction sites in Australia. The border scope and purpose of the plan is
to inculcate the culture of aligning tourism business with sustainability to help Australia maintain
its revenue earnings from the tourism sector in the future years.
Proposed Process:
This proposed tourism plan by Tourism Australia for preservation of marine ecosystem
known as “Save the water bodies” is strictly meant to preserve the biodiversity of the marine eco
system of Australia. The implementation of the plan would require a direct and strong assistance
from the government officials to communicate marine conservation as a vital national priority as
well as receive financial aid from the private business houses and organizations to help Tourism
Australia aid and influence in constructing a more integrated Marine policy. The implementation
phase of the tourism environment plan would include a greater initiative among the local tourism
industries and companies who need to put a stringent check on their business activities and must
ensure to comply with the expected standards of sustainable business. The implantation of the
tourism plan by Tourism Australia would also demand a greater conscious effort on the part of
the visitors or tourists who must ensure that their activities to not threat the natural habitat of the
species and degrade the marine environment to be more precise. Moreover to ensure continuity

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of these positive operations the government to lend substantial aid both financial as well as on-
financial to theses volunteering organizations.
A tourism environment plan needs to be substantiated with appropriate strategic ideas
that would help the plan to get transformed from idea to execution. Therefore from the above
presented discussion it is quite clear how protecting the marine environment of Australia has
been the focus of the tourism plan that has been initiated by Tourism Australia. It is very
necessary to first understand how human activities specially pertaining to the tourism industry is
significantly impact on the marine health of the Australian water bodies and which in turn is
affecting the overall tourism industry. Thus it becomes more like a vicious circle which demands
immediate attention and addressable of the same. Thus, this report highlights on the details of the
plan and its process of being implemented, the potential impact it holds on the marine
biodiversity as well as on the tourism business of Australia.

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