The Business of Tourism and Hospitality in the Great Barrier Reef

This report examines the business of tourism and hospitality in the Great Barrier Reef, focusing on the Whitsunday Islands as a prime attraction. It analyzes the marine tourism sector's significant contribution to the Australian economy, highlighting market segmentation and the use of online marketi...Read More

Running head: THE BUSINESS OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY
The Business of Tourism and Hospitality
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1THE BUSINESS OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY
OPERATING IN GREAT BARRIER REEF
Byline
Whitsundays Islands are the chief attraction in the Great Barrier Reef. The Great
Barrier Reef stands as a protective cover over these islands and saves them from the oceanic
covers.The Whitsundays Islands are one of the safest and the most relaxing cruising waters
and a very soothing luxury holiday destination place for the tourists all over the world.
Situated in just the centre of the Great Barrier Reef, The Whitsunday Islands is an essential
wonderful Australian travel experience. Made up of 2900 reefs, it is the largest reef structure
and the greatest marine park in the world. This news article deals with the market segment of
the tourism sector in the newspaper titled “Herald Sun”
The marine tourism sector is the prime partner of the protection and the management
of the Great Barrier Reef. The tourism sector of the Great Barrier Reef is one of the major
industries which contributes to almost $5.4 billion to the Australian economy, providing
employment to a huge number of people. The market segment in the Travel and Tourism
sector is a major business segment that needs to be focussed on. The tourism marketers make
use of segmentation to better understand the customer requirements. The travel brands and
the destination marketers also make use of the online marketing opportunity since their
customers have the potential to move online. A sustainable industry is ensured by the marine
tourism of the reef which also helps to maintain the diversity, the integrity and the
productivity of the region. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) invites almost 1.7
million touristsin the region every year. This helps in a generation of a great level income,
which eventually has a rapid development in the tourism infrastructure in the concerned area.
Geographically the Tourism sector in Great Barrier Reef is concentrated in the Cairns and the
Whitsundays Areas which approximately cover about 7 percent of the Marine Park. There is

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generation of the direct and indirect employment by this tourism industry. The hotels and the
restaurant in the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsundays Islands earn a lot of profit, since it
also involves direct employment because the employees there are in direct contact with the
tourists and provide the tourist experience.
Increased population pressures on the services such as sewage, transport, electricity as
well as the construction of tourism development effects the water quality of the region. These
are involved in the social impacts that the tourism sector has over the Great Barrier Reef.
There had been immense destruction on the Reef, which included drilling and mining the vast
swathes of the reef, which was supported by the government and the industry. The Legal
decisions on the part of the Australian government have affected The tourism activities like
focus on the motorized and the non-motorized vessels and the marine activities, the boat
induced damage such as the ship groundings and the anchoring have cumulative impacts on
the coral reef. Even the impact of tourism and the recreation activities have a serious impact
on the wildlife populations which creates the difference in the species. Along with the other
factors that have an impact over the tourism sector of the Great Barrier Reef is the
technological changes. There have been various medical advances along with the innovative
space tourism. Improved communication, transport and safety invite greater number of
customers in this industry.
The factors influencing the success of the tourism sector and the ability to meet the need of
the customers are the proper plan of action. The development and the authenticity of the
marketing and the promotion of the tourism image. Primarily the factors that have a positive
impact upon the tourism sector are proper environmental factors, the socio-economic factors
which involve the accessiblity, accommodation and other ancillary services. Religious, and
cultural factors also help in the improvement of the tourism industry that help the customers
to meet their need and satisfaction.

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The tourism and the industry sector faces a number of challenges related to the
sustainability. Like any other business the corporate social responsibility of the tourism sector
also is a major factor. The challenges that need to be resolved through the greening of the
industry are the energy and the Greenhouse Gas emissions, the effective water management
and the water consumption. The tourism industry mist find innovative solutions in order to
fight with the competition in the market.
The economy of the country as well as the business of Australian and the tourism
sector can be effected to a great extent by the Tourism sector of the Great Barrier Reef, with
the advancement in the transport technology in the inaccessible regions of the reef and the
islands. If there is proper treatment of the discharges of the waste water in the Great Barrier
Reef, and the effluents of the sewages are monitored properly, with proper legislation, the
management of the mass tourism would have been improved

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