Reef tourism under pressure
Tourism in northern Queensland is under challenge from global economic volatility, rising oil prices and the threats posed by climate change.
How the coral reef based tourism sector can cope with this triple threat to their existence is the subject of a new study by James Cook University’s Duan Biggs.
“I am trying to understand how reef tour operators and their employees can strengthen their resilience and ability to cope,” he said.
An economist now studying for his PhD through the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University, Mr Biggs said his research not only involved the Great Barrier Reef area but other countries in the Asia Pacific.
He has already undertaken initial surveys with operators in Airlie Beach and will now be moving to the Cairns/ Port Douglas area.
“The interviews are aimed at developing an understanding of the ability of businesses to cope with disturbances to the tourism market such as global economic volatility, extreme weather events and coral bleaching,” Mr Biggs said.
“What I hope to achieve with my studies and surveys is an understanding of the factors that make tourism businesses, individuals, and households dependent on tourism more resilient to climate-change and other disturbances.
“I plan to feed that information into the development of a practical workbook for businesses, policy makers and other stake-holders in the reef-based tourism sector to reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience to climate change and other shocks,” he said.
Mr Biggs plans to survey all the businesses who have been active in the sector for more than 3 years. Operators who are willing to participate in the survey should contact him on 0406047539 or duan.biggs@jcu.edu.au
Mr Biggs will be in the Cairns/Port Douglas area from the 10th to the 22nd of August.
Issued August 11, 2008
Contact: JCU Media Liaison, Jim O’Brien 07 4781 4822 or 0418 892449
