The importance of visitor perceptions in estimating how climate change will affect future tourist flows to the Great Barrier Reef

[Extract] A growing chorus of scientists (Hoegh-Guldberg, Mumby and Hooten 2007, IPCC 2007) are predicting the demise of coral reef systems as a direct consequence of climate change. In many tropical nations coral reefs are important tourism drawcards, and any decline in quality is likely to have serious implications for communities that benefit from this form of tourism activity. In Australia for example the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is a major national icon that is estimated to generate upwards of A$5.1 billion in direct and indirect tourism income each year (GBRMPA 2009). Given the importance of this asset there is an urgent need to investigate the extent of the impact that climate change is likely to have on the GBR, particularly its future ability to attract domestic and international tourists. The aim of the research reported in this chapter is to examine how tourists may response to the impacts of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef in the future. Understanding of this nature provides important data for marine tourism operators who will need to adjust their marketing message as climate change begins to have an impact on the GBR, and for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), the authority that administers the GBR